A 32-year-old man in Gig Harbor, Washington, allegedly stabbed his mother to death and then killed three neighbors who tried to intervene, authorities said. The suspect was shot dead by a deputy responding to the scene. The incident occurred Tuesday morning amid reports of a violated no-contact order.
The attack took place shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday at a residence in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Ct. NW in Gig Harbor, a community about 50 miles southwest of Seattle. Aleksandr Aleksandro Shablykin, 32, arrived at the home in violation of a no-contact order. Deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office were en route around 9:30 a.m. to serve the order, which was not yet valid.
While deputies traveled to the location, multiple witnesses called 911 to report that Shablykin was stabbing people. A deputy arrived and confronted Shablykin, who was still attacking victims, before opening fire. Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The victims included his 52-year-old mother, Zoya Anatolyevna Shabliykina, and three neighbors: Joanne Kathleen Brandani, 59; Stephanie Killilea, 67; and Louise Sandra Talley, 81. Three victims died at the scene, while the fourth succumbed at a hospital. The Pierce County Coroner's Office determined that all four women died from multiple sharp force injuries.
Shabliykina had obtained a yearlong restraining order against her son in May of the previous year. In the order, she described his mental health and substance abuse issues, noting that he had threatened her by saying her "grave has been already dug up." It remains unclear if this was the specific order deputies were serving.
Shablykin's sister, Anastasiya Shabliykina, told local NBC affiliate KING that her brother had not been taking his medication for bipolar disorder. "That was not my brother that did that … It was something else, something evil," she said. Anastasiya's partner, Robert Knowles, shared with The Seattle Times that Zoya had texted her daughter about the suspect having "taken over the house," and they learned of the fatal outcome while en route.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for funeral costs, describing the event as rooted in mental health struggles. It also highlights the trauma faced by the neighbors, who had deep community connections: Brandani and Killilea served as commissioners for the Gig Harbor Arts Commission, while Talley volunteered with Visit Gig Harbor.