TACOMA, Wash. — Daffodil Princess Alexandria Cole, who was found dead in Tacoma, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, a Puyallup Tribal spokesman said.
Cole's death, three days before the annual Daffodil Parade in Pierce County, is being investigated as a suicide.
Cole was a member of the Quinault Nation and lived with her mother at the Puyallup Tribal Housing Authority apartments in Tacoma where she was found Wednesday morning.
Puyallup tribal spokesman John Weymer said Cole had a gunshot wound to her head and a small caliber gun in her lap.
Cole, who represented Chief Leschi High School as a Daffodil Festival Princess, had laid out her yellow formal dress along with the crown she was to wear in this weekend's annual parade, a source told KIRO 7.
According to parade organizers, Cole had been looking forward to the parade all year and talked about riding on the float with the other girls chosen as Daffodil Princesses.
“It’s tragic. There are 24 Daffodil Princesses this year and there are 23 girls that are really hurting inside right now,” said Daffodil Festival executive director Steve James.
Festival organizers canceled activities already under way on Wednesday, bringing all the girls together to tell them what happened.
They said the parade scheduled for this weekend will go on, and that Cole will be remembered during that event.
“We’ll take special considerations to honor Princess Alex. What that looks like I don’t know yet,” said James.
The parade -- formally known as the Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade -- is scheduled for Saturday, part of the 79th Annual Daffodil Festival.
Investigators have not said if Cole left any kind of note giving a reason for her suicide.
She may have had problems with depression and some stress in her private life.
Tacoma police and Puyallup Tribal police are investigating.
KIRO
