A Pierce County man returned home from work Tuesday afternoon to discover his wife, adult son, and family dog dead from gunshot wounds in their rural home, authorities said.
Deputies were called to a residence in the 7400 block of 185th Ave NW shortly before 2 p.m. Authorities discovered all three bodies in a bedroom.
“The son did not live here. The mom and the dad allowed him to stay here last night, and he was struggling with some addiction and some mental health,” said Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto. “When dad left to work this morning he wasn’t very comfortable with that and then decided to come home and unfortunately he came home to his wife and his adult son deceased.”
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said there are no outstanding suspects in connection with the case. The statement suggests investigators believe the deaths occurred within the family, though authorities have not confirmed whether they are treating this as a murder-suicide.
The father’s discomfort when leaving for work suggests he recognized warning signs but may not have anticipated the severity of what would happen. Mental health crises and addiction often intersect with violence, particularly when family members attempt to provide support while living in close quarters.
