Gig Harbor woman shoots, kills boyfriend with children present

WA mom accused of murdering boyfriend in front of kids

A homicide investigation is underway in Gig Harbor after a woman shot and killed her boyfriend inside her home Wednesday night. Authorities say children were there when it happened.

GIG HARBOR, Wash. - A homicide investigation is underway in Gig Harbor after a woman shot and killed her boyfriend inside her home Wednesday night. Authorities say children were there when it happened.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD), at around 9:56 p.m., someone called 911 saying they heard people screaming and then several gunshots being fired at a home near the corner of Ray Nash Dr. NW and Ray Nash Ct. NW.

Deputies set up police tape around a Gig Harbor home where a deadly shooting took place. (Photo: Pierce County Sheriff's Department)

The PCSD says the 911 caller said, "the mother had shot the stepfather". Another 911 caller reported the woman running down the road.

When deputies arrived, they detained the 34-year-old woman. When they went inside the home to investigate, they found the 39-year-old man dead.

The woman’s 11-year-old daughter and two other relatives, a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old were at the home during the shooting.

"We are not sure if 100 percent they witnessed the shooting, but they did see the boyfriend deceased inside the residence, which is just that much more traumatic to think that the children witnessed the aftermath of this incident," said Sergeant Darren Moss with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

FOX 13 Seattle reached out to the Washington Department of Children Youth and Families to see if child protective services were previously involved with this family. However, the department refused to answer, citing "confidentiality laws."

After interviewing the suspect, detectives learned that she and the victim were using drugs before the shooting. Detectives believe that she shot her boyfriend and then fired more shots as she ran from the home.

The woman was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail for second-degree murder.