In a shocking incident near Gig Harbor, Washington, four individuals were killed in a stabbing attack as law enforcement officers were en route to serve a domestic violence protection order. New details from court filings reveal that the suspect’s mother had previously sought legal protection, claiming her adult son exhibited disturbing behavior she described as involving witchcraft and occult rituals.
Protection Order Filed Amid Concerns Over Behavior
According to court records, an elderly woman obtained a one-year protection order against her 32-year-old son in May 2025, alleging a history of threats, emotional abuse, and unsettling conduct inside their shared home on the Key Peninsula, northwest of Tacoma. The petition detailed episodes of the son reportedly engaging in what she described as witchcraft or occult behavior, damaging her property and harming her pet.
The protective order barred the man from possessing weapons, mandated participation in a mental health treatment plan, and required him to stay at least 1,000 feet away from his mother’s residence and workplace. However, enforcement of the order was delayed because it had not been personally served to the suspect at the time of the fatal violence.
Fatal Stabbing as Deputies Approached
On the morning of Feb. 24, 2026, deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office were responding to a report of a no-contact order violation at the home when fresh calls came in about a stabbing outside the same address. When officers arrived, they encountered the suspect actively attacking multiple people. A deputy fatally shot the suspect during the confrontation.
Three victims were declared dead at the scene, and a fourth victim later died from injuries sustained. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the delayed service of the protective order and the events immediately before the stabbing.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Inquiry
Neighbors in the typically quiet Gig Harbor area expressed disbelief in the wake of the violence, describing the neighborhood as peaceful and stunned by the escalation. Local officials have indicated that the Pierce County Force Investigation Team is continuing to review evidence and interview witnesses to determine the full sequence of events.
