15-year-old boy charged with shooting his parents and three siblings in Washington state

SEATTLE (AP) — A 15-year-old boy accused of killing his parents and three of his siblings east of Seattle this week tried to blame the killings on his younger brother, but a sister who survived After playing dead, she fled to a neighbor’s house and told the police who really carried out the execution the shootingsauthorities said in a court document released Thursday.

The boy was charged with five counts of aggravated murder in juvenile court on Thursday. Under Washington state law, a hearing is required before the case can be moved to adult court.

The 11-year-old sister who survived Monday’s shooting told investigators that the defendant had recently gotten in trouble for failing exams at school and that the gun he used belonged to her father. Of all the children, she said, he was the only one who knew the code to the locker where her father kept him.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victims as Sarah Humiston, 42, Mark Humiston, 43, and their children Katheryn Humiston, 7, Joshua Humiston, 9, and Benjamin Humiston, 13.

According to an affidavit from King County Sheriff’s Detective Aaron Thompson, the defendant called 911 around 5 a.m. Monday to report that his 13-year-old brother had shot their family at their Fall City home, because he got into trouble for looking at pornography.

A few minutes later, a neighbor called 911 and said in the affidavit that the injured 11-year-old came into the house and reported that her family had been shot by her 15-year-old brother and that she was playing dead before escaping the affidavit said.

Arriving officers detained the 15-year-old in the driveway and found the bodies inside. The 11-year-old was treated at a hospital in Seattle and has since been released, a hospital spokesman said.

The 15 year old waived his right to appear in court on Tuesday, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office. His defense lawyers said in court that he had no previous convictions. His lawyers did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the allegations Thursday.

The teenager is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon.

Mark Humiston worked as an electrical engineer at Hargis Engineers in Seattle.

“We are surprised and saddened by the tragic events that resulted in the loss of a respected colleague, mentor and friend, as well as the loss of immediate family members,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “Mark’s leadership and vision were an integral part of our company and we will miss him greatly.”