The attack began near a convenience store before an hours-long search ended with gunfire several blocks away, officials said.
PARKLAND, Wash. — A 54-year-old man and his dog were stabbed early Sunday near a neighborhood market, and Pierce County deputies later shot a man they say matched the suspect’s description after he ran and confronted them with knives several blocks away.
Deputies were called about 6:24 a.m. to the S S Quickstop Grocery area after the victim reported being attacked by an unknown man, according to the sheriff’s office. The encounter, officials said, began with the assailant asking the victim about his religion before the stabbing. The victim and his dog were taken for emergency care in serious condition. Deputies and a K-9 team searched for more than two hours. Shortly before 8:50 a.m., deputies found a man they believed was the attacker near 112th Street South and 8th Avenue Court South. Moments later, multiple shots were fired, striking the man. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Investigators said the victim told deputies the assailant asked what religion he followed; the victim responded he was Christian, and the man attacked. The sheriff’s office said deputies recovered multiple knives and reported the suspect advanced on them and ignored commands to stop. The exact number of shots fired was not immediately released. The sheriff’s office did not identify the suspect Sunday. The victim’s name was also withheld. The dog underwent emergency surgery. Detectives have not said whether they believe the question about religion indicates bias motivation and said that aspect remains under review. The sheriff’s office described the search effort as a coordinated sweep using patrol units and K-9 teams across nearby blocks.
According to the initial timeline, the victim called 911 at 6:24 a.m. from near Park Avenue South, south of the market on 112th Street South. Deputies arrived to find the victim bleeding and gave first aid as medics responded. The victim gave a description of the attacker before being transported. At about 8:40 a.m., a deputy spotted someone matching that description in the 800 block of 112th Street South. The man ran behind a home; deputies followed. At approximately 8:47 a.m., deputies reported gunfire. The sheriff’s office said life-saving measures began at the scene. The Force Investigation Team later took over, a regional group that examines deputy-involved shootings in Pierce County.
Officials said several deputies were placed on leave, which is standard after shootings. The number of deputies involved was not immediately released. The sheriff’s office said investigators will collect body-worn camera video where available, canvass for surveillance footage near the S S Quickstop and the 112th Street corridor, and interview witnesses and the victim when his condition allows. Records from animal emergency staff will also be reviewed to document the dog’s wounds and treatment. Detectives said they are still confirming whether the suspect and victim knew each other; early indications point to no prior connection.
Public records show the intersection of 112th Street South and Park Avenue South sits in a commercial-and-residential strip with small stores, bus stops and alley access behind homes. The area has seen periodic patrol calls for disturbances and thefts, though deputies did not link those to Sunday’s events. The sheriff’s office said K-9 units worked a grid search down Park Avenue South before the sighting on 112th Street South. The investigation will examine whether the suspect’s path can be retraced via doorbell cameras or business systems. Officials said the knives recovered will be tested and compared with wounds found by hospital staff on the victim and the dog.
Detectives will forward their findings to prosecutors for review, a step that typically includes a determination of whether the deputies’ use of force complied with state law. If evidence supports a potential bias element, prosecutors could also consider Washington’s hate crime statute, which requires proof of intent. As of Sunday night, no charging decisions or case referrals had been announced. The medical examiner will identify the deceased man and determine cause and manner of death after family notification. Investigators said they expect to release additional information about the involved deputies and any recovered evidence once preliminary interviews are finished.
Neighbors along 112th Street described a swift, heavy police response. Several said they heard shouted commands before the gunfire. One resident said deputies moved yard to yard behind fences as the suspect ran. Another neighbor said she saw medics rush a wounded man to an ambulance as others taped off the block. In the earlier scene near the market, employees said they arrived to find a stained sidewalk and patrol cars clustered at the corner. Animal hospital staff confirmed a dog was treated that morning; they declined to share details beyond timing and condition.
As of late Sunday, the sheriff’s office said the Force Investigation Team was processing both scenes and planned to brief the public after initial interviews and evidence collection. The next update is expected once the medical examiner completes identification and deputies’ names are cleared for release under agency policy.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.