A quiet waterfront neighborhood in Gig Harbor, Washington, turned into a scene of horror Tuesday morning when four people were fatally stabbed, authorities said.
According to the New York Post, the attacks occurred around 8:40 a.m. in a cul-de-sac of homes valued between $600,000 and $800,000, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Three victims died at the scene, while a fourth succumbed to injuries after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
The 32-year-old suspect, armed with a knife, was shot and killed by the sole responding deputy.
Police confirmed that the incident followed reports of a no-contact order violation, although the order had not yet been officially served and was therefore not legally in effect.
Tacoma Police Officer Shelbie Boyd said the relationship between the victims and the suspect remains under investigation.
“In order for a violation to be valid, the individual has to have been served so that there’s knowledge that the judge has prohibited them to have contact and what those requirements or conditions are,” Boyd explained.
Deputies had received a copy of the order while en route to the Key Peninsula residence when a report came in that a man was seen actively stabbing people outside the home. The first caller’s identity is unclear, though Boyd said it was likely someone aware of the pending order.
The Pierce County Force Investigation Team has taken over the probe. Authorities described the scene as “very active” and confirmed they are still working to identify the victims.
Residents of the normally quiet tourist hotspot, located just 45 miles from Seattle, were shocked by the violence.
“It’s a peaceful community,” one neighbor told reporters, describing the area as calm and picturesque, far removed from the kind of tragedy that unfolded Tuesday.
No further details about the suspect’s motive or the circumstances surrounding the victims have been released.
Law enforcement continues to urge anyone with information to come forward as the investigation progresses.
This marks one of the deadliest single-incident attacks in Pierce County in recent years, raising questions about the enforcement of protective orders and community safety in affluent residential areas.
