Police: 3 family members dead in Seattle shooting

Published 1:04 pm Tuesday, October 28, 2014

SEATTLE — Police said the man responsible for a Monday night shooting at a south Seattle home was 78 years old. They said he killed his 39-year-old daughter and 11-year-old granddaughter before killing himself. An unharmed 10-year-old boy was able to call 911 and report the shooting. Names have not been released by the King County medical examiner’s office.

The boy had called for help shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, saying his grandfather had waved a handgun at the two victims before shooting them, police said. The boy said his grandfather then turned the gun on himself.

Police officials and Mayor Ed Murray rushed to the scene on South Fountain Street.

The boy was “shaken up” but unhurt, Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz told reporters at the scene. The child was placed in the care of his extended family. It appeared there were just four people in the house, Metz said.

The motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately known, Metz said. Medics pronounced all three people dead at the scene.

The mayor said the shooting appears to be “a family tragedy.”

“One thing I would say is the neighborhood itself is safe,” Murray added.