Tragedy in Gig Harbor: Four Victims Fatally Stabbed
GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON — A deadly morning unfolded near Gig Harbor on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, when a 32-year-old man fatally stabbed four people outside a home just northwest of Tacoma before he was shot and killed by a Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Deputies were heading to the residence to serve a domestic violence protection order when multiple reports came in of an ongoing stabbing around 9:30 a.m. The suspect was confronted and fatally shot by responding law enforcement within minutes.
Protection Order and Mental Health History Under Scrutiny
Court documents and local reports show the suspect had a history of mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as multiple domestic violence protection orders stretching back several years. His mother had obtained a no-contact order against him in May 2025, citing threats, emotional abuse and erratic behavior.
The protective order, which also required the suspect to follow a mental health treatment plan and prohibited weapon possession, had not been formally served, meaning it was not legally in effect at the time of the attack.
Officials say the incident raises questions about why the order had not been delivered sooner, prompting a formal review by the Pierce County Force Investigation Team.
Community Impact and Ongoing Investigation
Neighbors described the normally quiet residential neighborhood as shocked by the violence, with emergency crews and law enforcement swarming the scene in the aftermath. Three stabbing victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and another died later at a hospital.
Authorities continue to investigate the precise relationships between the victims and the suspect, as well as systemic factors that may have contributed to the tragedy. No official identities have been released pending family notifications.
