Suspect, four victims dead after stabbing attack in US state of Washington

A 32-year-old suspect stabbed four people to death before being shot by a sheriff’s deputy near Tacoma, Washington.

A 32-year-old man in the United States has stabbed four people to death outside a home on the Key Peninsula, northwest of Tacoma, in Washington state. The suspect was later shot and killed by a Pierce County sheriff’s deputy.

The attack unfolded on Tuesday morning. Deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at about 8:41am local time (16:41 GMT) following reports that the suspect had violated a no-contact order, according to The Associated Press.

Officers obtained a copy of the no-contact order, but found it was not yet valid because it had not been served against the suspect.

They left to deliver the order in person. But while officers were in transit, the 32-year-old allegedly began stabbing people outside the residence, which is located in a cul-de-sac.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing the attack at approximately 9:30am (17:30 GMT). It took about three minutes for the first deputy to arrive, and shots were fired at 9:33am (17:33 GMT), according to a video statement released by local authorities.