Four people were stabbed to death in Washington state, but a failed protection order is raising urgent questions

Four people were fatally stabbed on February 24, 2026, near Tacoma, Washington, before the suspect was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy. Authorities say a no-contact order tied to the suspect was not yet legally enforceable at the time of the attack.

The incident was reported by Al Jazeera, which said the suspect was a 32-year-old man. Deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office were first sent to a home on the Key Peninsula after a report that the suspect had violated a no-contact order.

When deputies reviewed the order, they determined it had not been officially served, meaning it was not valid for enforcement. Officers then left to serve the order, and the situation escalated while they were in transit.

The order had not been served when deputies first responded

According to authorities, deputies were dispatched around 8:41 AM local time to the residence in a cul-de-sac on the Key Peninsula, northwest of Tacoma. They were responding to a report tied to the no-contact order involving the suspect, as Tyra Banks meme backlash continued circulating online.

After determining the order had not been served, deputies left the scene to serve it in person. Witnesses later reported that at about 9:30 AM, the suspect began stabbing people outside the residence.

The first deputy arrived at 9:33 AM and shots were fired. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said three of the stabbing victims died at the residence. A fourth victim was taken to a hospital and later died from their injuries.

The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is leading the investigation into the stabbings and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the identities of the suspect or the four victims.

Court records cited in the report indicate the home appeared to belong to a woman who sought a one-year protection order against her 32-year-old son, who is believed to be the suspect. The filing alleged threatening remarks and raised concerns about mental health issues and substance abuse, as Pirro grand jury blowback dominated separate political coverage.

The filing also alleged emotional abuse, property damage, and harm to a pet. Records indicated the son had notice of a hearing for the restraining order but did not appear.