How 11-year-old outsmarted gunman who killed 5 family members
In the early hours of Monday, an 11-year-old girl from Fall City, Washington, managed to escape after her entire family was tragically gunned down in their home. Her 15-year-old brother is suspected of the brutal act, which left five family members dead, as detailed in court documents.
The girl recounted to investigators that she awoke to the sound of gunfire. When she opened her bedroom door, she saw her father, Mark Humiston, bleeding from a head wound, and her 9-year-old brother, also injured, lying in the hallway. Her 7-year-old sister, upon stepping out of their shared room, was immediately shot and collapsed in front of her. As the shooter entered her room and fired, hitting her hand and neck, the 11-year-old pretended to be dead.
Despite the pain and chaos, the girl recognised the weapon as her father’s Glock handgun—and the shooter as her 15-year-old brother. She recalled how he moved among the bodies, checking if any family members were still alive. When he left the room, she escaped through her bedroom’s fire window, running to a neighbour’s house for help. The neighbours called 911, reporting the incident and identifying the older brother as the alleged shooter.
Just minutes earlier, the 15-year-old himself had called 911, claiming he was hiding in a bathroom and accusing his 13-year-old brother of committing the murders before killing himself. He suggested that the motive was linked to their 13-year-old sibling being reprimanded for looking at inappropriate material online. When authorities arrived, they detained the 15-year-old, charging him with five counts of aggravated murder and one count of attempted murder.
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The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is seeking to transfer his case to adult court, where he would face a significantly harsher sentence if convicted. In juvenile court, he would be held until age 25 at most. The process of moving his case to adult court is ongoing and may take months to finalise.
Since the incident, the surviving girl has been treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and has since been released. Local authorities have confirmed that a family member will take her in and provide care.
This devastating incident has left the close-knit community in shock. Neighbors remember the Humiston family as active, homeschooling their children and engaged in local activities. Mark Humiston’s employer, Hargis Engineers, expressed grief, remembering him as a respected colleague and leader.
The shooting has contributed to the rising number of gun-related deaths in the U.S., where over 1,100 children and teens have been affected by gun violence this year. Local officials are urging residents to offer support to the grieving family and community during this difficult time.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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