Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating after a man and woman were found dead Thursday night inside a Pierce County home, with a 14-year-old girl discovered alive hiding in a bedroom closet.
Deputies were called to the home around 10:41 p.m. October 9 after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, neighbors told deputies they had heard several gunshots, but no one was answering the door.
Deputies forced their way into the home and found a 57-year-old man and 54-year-old woman dead inside. The 14-year-old was found alive, hiding in a bedroom closet.
Investigators said the girl was not involved in the incident and was released to family members.
The Sheriff’s Office said preliminary investigation indicates there are no outstanding suspects and the incident appears to be contained to the home. No further details have been released.
The lack of outstanding suspects suggests investigators believe all parties involved in the deaths are accounted for, potentially indicating a murder-suicide or other domestic incident. The presence of the teenage girl who was uninvolved but present during the shooting raises questions about the relationships between the deceased individuals and the teen.
The girl’s need to hide in a closet suggests she witnessed or heard the violence and sought safety, potentially experiencing significant trauma from the incident requiring support services.
Pierce County has experienced multiple domestic violence incidents resulting in fatalities this year, reflecting broader concerns about intimate partner violence and access to firearms in crisis situations.
