A 15-year-old boy from Seattle, Washington, has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Deputies found the boy’s parents, Mark and Sarah Humiston, fatally shot alongside three of his younger siblings. Early morning of October 21, 2024, the King County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the suspect. According to court filings, the suspect attempted to blame the massacre on his brother. When he called 911, he stated his brother “shot my whole family and committed suicide, too.” He appeared in court the following Friday, October 25, where he was officially charged with first-degree murder.
11-Year-Old Survivor
The suspect’s younger sister told investigators she woke up to the sound of gunshots. She discovered her brothers and father lying in the hallway, covered in their blood. She then witnessed her oldest brother shoot her sister before he came after her. The suspect fired the gun at her, in which the bullet grazed her. She laid down and, without breathing, pretended to be dead until she could escape. Once the coast was clear, she jumped out of her bedroom window and ran to the nearest neighbor, who called 911. She was checked into the hospital shortly after for her injuries and has been released since then.
The Humiston family was slayed by the hands of their firstborn, and their 11-year-old daughter will now grow up without a family. Investigators concluded that the 15-year-old boy was responsible for the murders and altered the crime scene to pin it on his brother. The young girl told investigators she recognized the gun her brother used to murder her family. She described it “as her father’s silver Glock handgun.” Her father kept the gun in a lockbox that typically sat near the front door so he could take it to work. It is alleged that the suspect was the only one to know the combination besides his father.
First-Degree Murder Charges
The suspect has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder with an additional attempted murder charge. He is being represented by public defenders Amy Parker and Molly Campera. At his court hearing last week, they described the suspect as a kind and caring individual. Parker told the court, “Given the media interest in this case and the seriousness of these charges, we want the court to know that multiple people in the community have reached out to us who know our client, and they have attested to his good character.” They reminded everyone as well that these are merely allegations against their client.
According to the defense, the law assumes he is innocent of the charges brought against him. His defense has also filed a motion to protect his privacy, which was ultimately granted. His name will not be released to the public, and his face will not be filmed during court appearances. The suspect was arrested the same day that authorities found his family. The following day, he was scheduled to appear in court. He waived his right to appear and agreed to let the court proceedings happen without his presence. The teen was also ordered to cease all contact with his surviving sibling. His next court appearance has been scheduled for January 8, 2025.
Final Thoughts
The Humiston family faced an unexpected tragedy. When their daughter was asked if the suspect had any issues at home, the only thing that came to mind was he failed some tests and got in trouble. This sounds like nothing more than a disturbed and spoiled teenager who acted irrationally. During his initial court appearance, prosecutors urged a hearing to determine whether the 15-year-old would be tried as an adult. As of now, the hearing is set for June 4, 2025. A plea will not be entered until the decision has been made. If he is tried in adult court and a jury convicts him, he could be facing 25 years to life behind bars.
