11-Year-Old Girl Survives Family Shooting by ‘Playing Dead’ as 15-Year-Old Brother Allegedly Kills Siblings, Parents

An 11-year-old girl is the sole survivor of a fatal family shooting, allegedly carried out by her 15-year-old brother. Authorities report that she escaped death by “playing dead” and later sought help from a neighbor.

According to law enforcement, the 15-year-old boy faces charges of five counts of aggravated murder after allegedly shooting and killing his parents and three siblings in their eastern Seattle home. The victims have been identified as Mark Humiston, 43, his wife Sarah Humiston, 42, and their three young children, Katheryn, 7, Joshua, 9, and Benjamin, 13, all of whom were found dead when police arrived at the scene.

Details from an affidavit filed by King County Sheriff’s Detective Aaron Thompson reveal that the tragedy unfolded early Monday morning. The 15-year-old suspect allegedly called 911 around 5 a.m., claiming his 13-year-old brother had shot the family following a dispute over viewing explicit online content. However, when police arrived, evidence and eyewitness accounts contradicted his version of events, leading to his arrest.

The young girl, who survived by pretending to be dead, recounted the horrific incident to investigators. She shared that her brother, who reportedly had recent issues at school, had access to their father’s handgun, stored in a lockbox for which he knew the combination. She managed to flee to a neighbor’s house for assistance after the shootings.

Sky News reports that the suspect, who remains unnamed due to his age, initially attempted to mislead authorities by placing the blame on his 13-year-old brother. However, subsequent investigations have placed full responsibility on the 15-year-old, who was taken into custody at the scene.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirmed that the suspect waived his right to a preliminary court appearance on Tuesday. His legal team emphasized his lack of prior criminal history. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.

Mark Humiston, a respected electrical engineer with Hargis Engineers, was mourned by his colleagues who described him as a “mentor and friend.” In a statement, the firm expressed profound sorrow, saying, “Mark’s leadership and vision were integral to our firm, and he will be deeply missed.”