Tragic Knife Attack in Gig Harbor Area
Four people were fatally stabbed Tuesday morning near a residential street on the Key Peninsula, northwest of Tacoma, Washington, before a suspect was shot and killed by a Pierce County sheriff’s deputy, local authorities confirmed. The violent episode unfolded as law enforcement was heading to serve a protection order at the property.
Deputies Responded to Protection Order Call Before Violence Erupted
According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were alerted shortly after 8:40 a.m. to reports that a 32-year-old man was violating a no-contact protection order outside a home on the Key Peninsula. Officials later found the order was not legally in effect because it had not yet been formally served to the suspect, and officers were en route to deliver it when new calls came in reporting a stabbing.
When a deputy arrived on the scene around 9:30 a.m., the suspect was actively stabbing multiple people. Shots were fired by the deputy, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Victims and Ongoing Investigation
First responders and investigators found three victims dead at the location. A fourth victim, critically wounded, later died after being taken to a hospital, authorities said.
At this stage, officials have not released the identities of the victims or confirmed the exact relationships between them and the suspect. Local law enforcement has indicated that a deeper investigation is underway to understand the full context of the incident, including why the protection order was not previously delivered.
