Tragic Family Shooting in Fall City: Teen Charged with Five Murders
In a shocking incident that has left the community of Fall City in deep sorrow, a 15-year-old boy was charged on Thursday with the brutal murder of his parents and three siblings at their home by Lake Alice. The young suspect faces five counts of first-degree aggravated murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder for the events that occurred early Monday morning.
Details of the Incident
The grisly scene unfolded at a waterfront house south of Fall City, where King County prosecutors allege the boy used his father’s Glock handgun to carry out the killings. Victims identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office include Mark Humiston, 43; Sarah Humiston, 42; and their three children: Katheryn, 7; Joshua, 9; and Benjamin, 13. All victims succumbed to gunshot wounds.
Charging documents reveal that shortly before 5 a.m. on the day of the incident, the 15-year-old called 911. He claimed that his 13-year-old brother was responsible for the murders before allegedly taking his own life. He informed the dispatcher he was hiding in the bathroom during the chaos.
Survivor’s Account
A significant piece of information came from an 11-year-old girl, the only surviving sibling. A neighbor reported that she ran to their house, bleeding from her neck and hand, and told them that her family had been shot. The neighbor also relayed the girl’s fear that her older brother might try to find her.
According to the 11-year-old, she heard gunshots and screaming, leading her to believe she should play dead to survive the attack. During the call, when the dispatcher questioned her about the shooter, she confidently identified her 15-year-old brother as the perpetrator.
Further Investigation
This young girl was later interviewed at Harborview Medical Center. She tearfully recounted waking up to gunfire and seeing her father and brother on the floor covered in blood. She explained how she escaped by using a window in her room and ran past her brother, who was on the phone outside the home. The girl noted that her brother had been facing difficulties at school, having gotten into “a lot of trouble” for failing tests.
Law Enforcement Response
Upon arriving at the scene, King County sheriff’s deputies detained the teenage suspect found in the driveway. Inside, they discovered the five deceased family members, including 13-year-old Benjamin, who was found with the handgun in his hand. However, investigators noted that forensic evidence suggested he could not have shot himself, marking it as a potential act of foul play.
Other findings indicated that Mark Humiston had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, with evidence suggesting that the crime scene had been staged to mislead authorities about the true sequence of events. Notably, the bathroom door had been splintered, indicating a struggle may have occurred prior to Sarah Humiston’s death.
Next Steps in Legal Proceedings
The 15-year-old remains in custody at King County’s youth jail at the Judge Patricia H. Clark Child and Family Justice Center. Prosecutors have initiated a motion for a “discretionary decline hearing,” seeking to have him tried as an adult. This process could take several months, as 16- and 17-year-olds charged with serious offenses can be charged as adults automatically, but younger individuals require a court hearing.
If the court grants the request to charge the teen as an adult and he is found guilty, he could face a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Conclusion
This heartbreaking situation has left the community in shock and mourning. The next court hearing is set for Friday at 1:30 p.m., where more information may come to light as this tragic case unfolds.
