Five people are dead, including a 32-year-old male suspect, following a stabbing and subsequent shooting in Purdy, Washington, on Tuesday morning, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began around 8:47 a.m. When deputies were dispatched to the 14017 block of 87th Avenue Court N.W. To serve a no-contact order, officials stated. Even as en route, multiple witnesses reported that a man was actively stabbing people outside a residence.
Three victims died at the scene, and a fourth was transported to a nearby hospital where they later succumbed to their injuries, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Deputies arrived at approximately 9:33 a.m., and shots were fired. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot by responding deputies.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is leading the investigation, and the scene remains active, according to FOX 13 Seattle. The no-contact order deputies were attempting to serve was not yet valid, as it hadn’t been officially served, MyNorthwest reported.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident unfolded in Purdy, a small waterfront community near Gig Harbor, approximately one hour southwest of Seattle and 20 minutes northwest of Tacoma.
Witnesses reportedly observed the attack unfolding in the street, with the suspect stabbing a victim in public view, according to KIRO Newsradio.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone with information related to the incident to contact their tip line. The investigation is ongoing to determine the precise timeline of events and establish a motive for the stabbings.
