VAUGHN, Wash. — The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) says a man reported finding his wife, adult son, and dog shot to death at a home on the Key Peninsula on Tuesday afternoon.
At 1:27 p.m., deputies responded to the home near Crescent Beach Road Northwest and 73rd Street Court in Vaughn.
Vaughn is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, between Belfair and McNeil Island. It has a population of just over 900 people as of 2023.
PSCO confirmed the woman, son, and their dog were found dead in a bedroom.
The man who called 911 said his son had been struggling with mental health issues as well as addiction and allowed him to stay the night at their house, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The caller had gone to work this morning and decided that he was going to come home early, just didn’t feel good about the situation,” said Deputy Carly Cappetto.
A gun was found at the scene and there are no other suspects, PSCO says.
Deputies say if your loved one is in crisis, don’t wait to call for help.
“We can keep people safe. We also have co-responders that respond with our deputies that specifically work with mental and they are the ones that can get them to the hospital and get them the help they need,” Cappetto said.
The sheriff’s office said the shootings are being investigated as a homicide.
There do not appear to be any outstanding suspects and the man who called 911 is being “fully cooperative,” deputies say.
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