The King County Sheriff’s Office responded to 911 calls just before 5 a.m. in Fall City Monday (Oct. 21), at a home east of Lake Alice.
KCSO confirmed Monday afternoon that there are five dead, including two adults and three minors, and a teenage male is in custody.
In a news conference around 9 a.m., KCSO Deputy Mike Mellis said they’re investigating multiple homicides in what they believe to be a domestic violence incident, and there will be a “significant, long investigation at this house.” The initial response to the scene was large and included officers from the Issaquah Police Department, as well as other nearby communities.
KCSO said the crime was isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Brandyn Hull said at least one person involved was taken to the hospital with injuries. She also said one neighbor who has medical training provided aid before first responders arrived.
Detectives from the Major Crimes unit are handling the incident and started with obtaining a search warrant, Mellis said in the news conference. He also said the Washington State Patrol’s Crime Scene Response unit will handle the bulk of the crime scene work. In a second news conference Monday afternoon, Mellis said processing the crime scene will likely take days.
“That implies that this is a significant scene that’s going to take a lot of expertise, a lot of time,” Mellis said.
The team investigating the shooting going forward will include interview experts and detectives who can diagram a crime scene, Mellis said. The King County Prosecutor’s Office also has personnel on the scene. The King County Medical Examiner will release the names and ages of the victims as the investigation continues.
On Monday morning, Snoqualmie Valley School District Superintendent Dan Schlotfeldt sent a letter to families about the “devastating news.” While none of the victims are believed to have attended Snoqualmie Valley schools, the district will provide counselors and support staff for students to speak with throughout the week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.