04 December 2023 , 12:46
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A family-of-five were shot dead at home in a horrific murder-suicide just moments after relatives received a chilling text.
Cops in Washington were called to a home in Orchards after a family member received a horrifying message from a person at the home claiming they had "harmed others". A drone was launched by officers to appear inside the home and showed people who appeared to be dead.
The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team was called to the incident after reports of a potential firearm and entered the home with emergency services who found all five family members dead.
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A family were shot dead in an apparent murder-suicide (KPTV Fox12)The victims have not been named, but officials confirmed all of the deceased were adults. They also added there is no further threat to public safety. Clark County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Skidmore said the deaths at the home appeared to be a murder-suicide.
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Clark County Sheriff's Office said in a statement: "On 12/3/2023 at 13:06 hours, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a welfare check in the 11500 Block of NE 93rd Street in the Orchards Neighborhood of Vancouver, WA.
"A reporting party had requested CCSO check on their family after receiving a text message from a family member stating they had harmed others at the residence."
Neighbours have been left stunned at the shooting (Google Streetview)"Based on the information about harm to others, possible firearm involvement, and being unable to reach any of the family members in the home, patrol requested the assistance of the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team.
"CCSO deployed an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) into the home and found several people who appeared to be deceased.
"SWAT operators and Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) medics entered the residence and confirmed that five people were deceased inside. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) was called to the scene to investigate.
"While the investigation is in the early stage, this appears to be a murder-suicide involving a firearm. Five family members at the residence appeared to have been shot, including the suspect. There is not believed to be any threat to the public. This is an ongoing and active investigation."
(Fox12)The shooting comes just days after police arrested a suspect in connection to the killing of three homeless people and one other person around Los Angeles. Jerrid Powell, 33, was arrested for the murders.
Powell had already been arrested over the killing of a county employee earlier in the week. He is accused of fatally shooting a San Dimas father-of-two during a follow-home robbery on Tuesday.
No new charges were announced for Powell at the Saturday news conference and investigators are still trying to work out a motive. Posting to Twitter, the LAPD said: "Chief Moore just announced that the suspect believed to be responsible for the three murders of persons experiencing homelessness is in custody.
"The suspect is also believed to be responsible for a murder being investigated by the LA County Sheriff’s Department, and he was taken into custody by the Beverly Hills Police Department. Great partnership and use of technology to take this suspected murderer off the streets."
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