A man was shot and killed by Pierce County deputies Sunday morning after a violent stabbing attack on a victim and his dog in Parkland, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
The incident began at 6:24 a.m. when a victim called 911 reporting he had been stabbed by an unknown man near the S S Quickstop Grocer. When deputies arrived, the victim was in serious condition and told them the man had approached and asked what religion he was. The victim answered and mentioned being a Christian. The man then attacked and stabbed both the victim and his dog before fleeing southbound on Park Ave. S.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, while his dog, also seriously injured, was taken to an animal hospital for immediate surgery. The victim provided a description of the suspect before being transported.
Deputies, assisted by a K9 unit, searched the area for over two hours but initially failed to locate the suspect. At 8:40 a.m., a deputy conducting an area check spotted the suspect on the 800 block of 112th St. S. The suspect fled behind a nearby home. Deputies reported shots fired at 8:47 a.m.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the suspect was dead and had been shot by multiple deputies. According to a spokesperson, the suspect was armed with multiple knives, was resisting arrest, and approached deputies before shots were fired.
The investigation has been handed over to the Pierce County Force Investigation Team. Detectives do not know the suspect’s identity or his connection, if any, to the area or the house he fled behind. “If there are any witnesses, they’ll talk to people that live here in the area to find out if they know anything, if they heard anything, if they saw anything,” explained Sgt. Charles Porche, the acting public information officer with Pierce County FIT.
Neighbors said shootings and crime are on the rise in this area of Parkland. Many said they don’t feel safe walking alone on 112th St. S at night. Christopher Dotson, a father with young children, said he doesn’t feel safe living in the area with his family anymore. “We’re looking for a route out of here. It’s better to be somewhere safe, and kids can ride scooters and come out and do normal kid stuff without having to worry about who’s going to get shot or if you’re going to get caught in the crossfire.”
The incident raises questions about what triggers such seemingly random violence and whether there were warning signs authorities might have missed. The fact that the attack began with a question about religion suggests the suspect may have been experiencing a mental health crisis or acting on extremist beliefs.
