At least four people are dead in Key Peninsula, Washington, in a stabbing at a home early Tuesday morning, according to authorities.
A call came in at 8:47 a.m. regarding a man violating a no-contact order at a home, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. The order was not valid because deputies had yet to serve the man with a copy of the order, the sheriff's office added.
Witnesses reported that a man "was stabbing people outside the home" as deputies were en route to serve the order at 9:30 a.m., according to the sheriff's office.
"A solo deputy arrived and shots were reported at 9:33 a.m.," the sheriff's office said.
Three people were killed and another was taken to a hospital where they "later succumbed to their injuries," according to the sheriff's office.
A 32-year-old male suspect is also dead after being shot by a deputy, Tacoma Police Officer Shelbie Boyd told reporters. Boyd added that officials were working through the identification process for the deceased.
The relationship between the victims and the suspect is currently unknown, Boyd added.
"I'm uncertain of who the initial caller was," Boyd said. "I would assume it was somebody who had knowledge of the order, because that was the initial information deputies received."
Deputies were able to locate the order and intended to serve it to the suspect when they arrived on scene, according to Boyd.
"In order for a violation to be valid, the individual has to have been served so that there's knowledge that the judge has prohibited them to have contact and what those requirements or conditions are," Boyd said.
The sheriff's office described the scene as "very active" and noted that the Pierce County Force Investigation Team has taken over the case.
