An 11-year-old girl, who survived a tragic shooting incident in Washington State involving a 15-year-old boy, has shared her experience in court.
The incident occurred on October 21, when police were alerted to a disturbance involving gunfire at a residence in Fall City, Washington.
Upon reaching the scene, officers found two adults and three children dead.
Authorities reported that the 11-year-old girl had sustained injuries in at least two areas of her body.
The deceased were later identified as Mark Humiston, 42, his wife Sarah, and three of their children aged seven, nine, and 13.
The alleged shooter is their 15-year-old son.
Currently, the 11-year-old girl’s testimony has been heard in court, as reported by CNN.
In her account, the girl described to investigators how she woke up on Monday to the sound of gunshots outside her bedroom door.
Upon peeking outside, she witnessed her father with a head wound and her 9-year-old brother with blood in his mouth, lying in the hallway.
According to court documents, the girl recounted that her 7-year-old sister exited their shared bedroom, heard another gunshot, and then saw her sister fall.
The girl told how the shooter entered her room, shooting her twice, once in the hand and once in the neck. She pretended to be dead as he stood nearby.
She identified the shooter as her 15-year-old brother and recognized the gun as her father’s silver Glock handgun.
The authorities reported that her mother and 13-year-old brother were shot and killed in another part of the house.
Describing her escape, the girl said she managed to flee through a ‘fire window’ in her room and overheard her brother talking on the phone.
Interestingly, seven minutes before her escape, the 15-year-old had dialed 911 himself.
According to court documents, the teenager told the dispatcher that his 13-year-old brother was responsible for the shooting and had allegedly taken his own life.
The teen claimed he was hiding in a bathroom, adding that his brother had been caught looking at pornography the previous night and was about to face serious consequences, which might have served as a motive for the shooting.
When law enforcement arrived, the 15-year-old was detained and subsequently charged in juvenile court with five counts of aggravated murder and one count of attempted murder, with a firearm enhancement.
The Fall City United Methodist Church community gathered to mourn those who had died.
In a statement to King 5, Hargis Engineers expressed their sorrow, saying: “We are blindsided and saddened by the tragic events that have led to the loss of a respected colleague, mentor, and friend, as well as the loss of immediate family members.”
“Mark’s leadership and vision were integral within our firm, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his surviving family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”