Police said a witness reported that a son shot his father before killing himself.
KENT, Wash. — Two men were found dead Tuesday night after a shooting inside a West Hill home where police say a son killed his father and then himself.
Kent patrol officers responded at 9:27 p.m. May 12 to the 27100 block of 31st Avenue South. The home sits on the city’s West Hill, not far from the Auburn city line. Officers found a 70-year-old man and his 48-year-old son dead from gunshot wounds.
Police said the first account came from a witness at the scene. “Initial information from a witness” showed the son shot his father before taking his own life, the department said. Investigators believe both men lived at the residence. Their names had not been released Wednesday while officials worked to notify relatives.
The shooting drew a large police response to a residential area late Tuesday. Detectives and crime scene personnel worked at the home overnight and into Wednesday morning. Police have not released details about the moments before the gunfire, the type of gun used, or whether anyone else was inside the home when the shooting happened.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will make the official identification of both men and determine the final manner and cause of death. Kent police said there was no continuing danger to neighbors and no search for another suspect.
The investigation now centers on the timeline inside the home, witness statements and physical evidence collected from the property. Police have not announced a public briefing or said when more information will be released.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.