GIG HARBOR, Wash — Five people are dead, including the suspect, after a protection order violation in Gig Harbor escalated to a stabbing in the street and gunfire exchanged with deputies, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
The incident happened in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest.
Authorities say the initial call came in at 8:41 a.m. as an “Order Violation in Progress,” with the PCSO stating that an adult man came to the home despite having a no-contact order against him. Deputies confirmed the order was not valid as it had not yet been served.
Deputies obtained a copy of the order to serve the suspect, but while en route, they received an update at 9:30 a.m. that multiple witnesses were reporting the man was now stabbing people outside the home.
Witnesses said at least one of the victims was stabbed in the middle of the street in front of multiple onlookers.
“A few minutes later Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene and called out shots had been fired,” Officer Shelbie Boyd, the public information officer for the Pierce Co. Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), said. “We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy.”
Boyd added shots were reported at 9:33 a.m.
The PCSO said three adult victims were found dead at the scene, while a fourth victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition but later died, bringing the total amount of victims killed to four.
The attacker, a 32-year-old man, was also confirmed dead by the PCSO.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
“It was a protection order, so somebody involved in this was known,” Boyd said. “Relation to the stabbing victims, we’re uncertain what the relationships were of each of them.”
The PCFIT has taken over the investigation into the deputy-involved shooting.
