How did an 11-year-old Washington state girl survive her brother’s murderous rampage?

An 11-year-old girl’s quick and courageous actions helped her survive a terrifying ordeal and played a crucial role in leading police to her teenage brother, who is now charged with murdering their family. According to CBS News, this heartbreaking incident took place around 5 a.m. on Monday in Fall City, Washington, just 25 miles from Seattle. The girl’s parents, Mark (43) and Sarah Humiston (42), along with her siblings aged 7, 9, and 13, tragically lost their lives. The girl’s 15-year-old brother has been arrested and charged with the killings. Since most family members involved are minors, their names have not been released by the media. Reports indicate the gun used belonged to their father.

Despite being injured, the young girl managed to survive by pretending to be dead. She later described to dispatchers how she held her breath and stayed motionless before finding a chance to escape through her bedroom window. She ran to a neighbor’s home and bravely dialed 911, reporting that her family had been shot and identifying her brother as the shooter. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and later released.

From her hospital bed, the girl shared that her brother had recently faced trouble at home over his school performance and had been caught accessing inappropriate material online, which could provide a possible motive for the tragic incident. She explained that although her father kept the gun securely locked, her brother was the only other person who knew the combination to the lockbox.

Interestingly, the suspect himself also dialed 911, claiming that his 13-year-old brother had committed the murders before turning the gun on himself. However, his surviving sister’s separate call gave the police a different version of events, leading them to arrest the 15-year-old. When officers arrived, they found that the suspect had even tried to stage the scene, placing the gun in his deceased brother’s hand.

According to the Associated Press, the teenage suspect had no prior criminal record. He now faces additional charges of attempted murder due to his attack on his sister. Currently, he’s being charged as a juvenile, but a judge may later decide to try him as an adult, which would result in a vastly different sentencing outcome under Washington law.

This devastating event has left the community shaken. A neighbor expressed sorrow to Seattle’s KING 5 News, saying, “I’m just in total shock. I keep bursting into tears. That is why I have to go to my daughter’s house because I can’t be here on my own. I just keep seeing the faces of the children.” King County Deputy Mike Mellis also added, “It’s going to be a tragic event for the community, for anybody who has any connection out here.”