SEATTLE — A teenager, aged 15, is facing serious allegations of murdering his parents and three siblings in a tragic incident that occurred east of Seattle earlier this week. Reports indicate that he attempted to attribute the murders to his younger brother; however, an 11-year-old sister who managed to survive the ordeal played dead to escape and subsequently informed authorities about the actual events of the night, revealing the truth of the shootings. This information was included in documents filed in court on Thursday.
The young suspect was formally charged with five counts of aggravated murder in juvenile court. According to Washington state regulations, a hearing must take place to determine if the case will be transferred to the adult court system. The children of the family have been identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as Sarah Humiston, 42, Mark Humiston, 43, and their children Katheryn, 7; Joshua, 9; and Benjamin, 13.
In an affidavit from King County sheriff’s detective Aaron Thompson, it was revealed that the teenager made a 911 call around 5 a.m. on Monday, incorrectly claiming that his 13-year-old brother was responsible for the shootings, blaming him for an incident involving inappropriate online content. Shortly thereafter, a neighbor also contacted 911 reporting that the injured 11-year-old daughter had sought refuge, disclosing that her older brother was, in fact, the one who had attacked their family.
Law enforcement officers who responded detained the 15-year-old in the driveway of their home and discovered the horrific scene inside. The surviving 11-year-old was taken to a Seattle hospital for treatment and has since been released, according to hospital sources.
The accused teenager chose not to appear in court on Tuesday, as stated by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. His legal representation mentioned that he has no prior criminal record. Although attorneys did not respond quickly to requests for comments regarding the charges, the teenager is expected to have a court appearance scheduled for Friday afternoon.