A 15-year-old teenager has been charged with the murders of his parents and three siblings, as well as the attempted murder of another sibling who survived the attack at their Washington state home. The teen, who has not been named by NBC News due to being a minor, was charged with five counts of aggravated murder in the first degree and one count of attempted murder in the first degree. The incident took place in Fall City, about 25 miles east of Seattle.
One child survived the attack by playing dead, escaping through a fire window, and running to a neighbor’s house for help. The teen allegedly used a Glock handgun that belonged to their father to carry out the shootings. The surviving sibling, an 11-year-old girl, reported to police that the teen shot her and her family members.
The teen’s defense attorneys stated that the law presumes their client innocent and described him as a 15-year-old boy who enjoys mountain biking and fishing with no criminal history. The family homeschooled their children, who were active in the community and well-known, according to neighbors. The father was an electrical engineer, and his employer expressed sadness and shock at the tragic events.
The community and local officials expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and offered support to those affected by the tragedy. The case remains under investigation, and attempts to reach out to family members have been unsuccessful.
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