Family Massacre in Seattle Suburb: Teen Methodically Checks Pulses After Killing Parents and Siblings

Fall City, WA — In a tragic incident in a quiet suburb of Seattle, a 15-year-old boy is accused of using his father’s gun to kill his parents and three siblings in their home. The sole survivor, the perpetrator’s 11-year-old sister, provided harrowing details to authorities, saying her brother confirmed the fatalities by checking the pulses of the victims.

The massacre occurred last week in a sprawling mansion valued at approximately $2 million. Charged with the murder of his parents, Mark and Sarah Humiston, and his siblings, Benjamin, 13, Joshua, 9, and Katheryn, 7, the teenager now faces multiple counts of aggravated murder and attempted murder.

The young survivor recounted the chilling events, telling investigators she was awakened by gunfire early in the morning. Upon investigating, she witnessed the lifeless bodies of her father and brother in the hallway. Moments later, her sister was fatally shot after stepping into the corridor. The assailant then turned the gun on his 11-year-old sister, wounding her in the neck and hand before she feigned death to survive.

Escaping through a designated fire exit window in her bedroom, the girl sought refuge at a neighbor’s home, who immediately contacted emergency services. Meanwhile, the accused called 911 himself, concocting a story that blamed his 13-year-old brother for the killings, claiming the boy had died by suicide after a dispute over his misconduct the previous night.

Authorities arrived to find a staged scene, with the gun placed in the hand of the deceased 13-year-old brother. The orchestrator of this plot was swiftly apprehended by the police at the scene.

In her detailed account to the police, the surviving sister suggested her brother’s recent academic failures and the responsibility associated with access to the family’s firearm as possible pressures leading up to the incident. She indicated that her brother was the only sibling who knew how to access the locked box that contained the handgun their father took to work daily.

The local community has been left reeling by the events, with neighbors and school officials expressing shock and grief over the devastating loss. The local school district has offered counseling services to students and families shaken by the violence.

Legal experts stress the gravity of the charges the young perpetrator faces, emphasizing the rarity and severity of such familial killings. The case continues to develop as more details emerge from the ongoing investigation. The prosecutors handling the case have urged the public to reserve judgment until all facts are presented in court, pointing to the complex nature of the family dynamic and the suspect’s mental health as potential factors in the tragedy.

This case has also ignited conversations about gun safety and access by minors, prompting discussions among lawmakers and activists about potential legislative actions to prevent such incidents in the future. As this heart-wrenching story unfolds, a community mourns, and a nation grapples with the implications of family violence and firearms access.