Sheriff: 5 people found dead, including shooter, after man called officer to say he shot his family
BELFAIR (KCPQ) -
BELFAIR, Wash. -- Five people are dead, including the suspected shooter, following a standoff at a home in Belfair on Friday morning, Mason County sheriff's deputies said.
A SWAT team with negotiators was sent to the scene Friday morning, and initial reports were that there had been a 911 call from a man saying he had shot four people and had a gun to his own head.
See images from the scene:
A 12-year-old girl who was related to the suspect escaped from the scene, but wasn't shot.
.@MasonCoSheriff confirms 5 people dead including gunman who shot himself. #Q13FOXpic.twitter.com/qwsm8ww1vq
— Steve Kiggins (@Q13FOXKiggins) February 26, 2016
Mason County Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling says the girl who survived is 12 and was taken to a hospital for an evaluation Friday. Neither the gunman nor his four victims have been identified.
According to The Associated Press, Spurling also clarified how authorities were notified of the shooting. He says the gunman called an officer he had dealt with in the past to say he had shot and killed his family.
That officer went to the home Friday morning with another deputy and found the man, who was armed.
Authorities negotiated with him for hours before they entered the home and found the victims. Officials say the man killed himself.
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