Seattle Police: 4 dead after Wallingford house fire, police investigate related shooting
SEATTLE - Four people, two adults and two children, were found dead after a home in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood caught fire Saturday morning. Police are also investigating a possible shooting related to this incident.
According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), police responded to reports of a shooting near the corner of N 48th St. and Whitman Ave. N at around 9:23 a.m. This area is just two blocks south of the Woodland Park Zoo.
When police arrived, they found a residence engulfed in flames. Crews with the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) upgraded the incident to a two-alarm fire, and had the fire under control at around 9:39 a.m. According to the SFD, their crews worked with police to make entry into the home.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz held a press briefing after the incident, and confirmed two adults, an infant, a child and a dog were found dead inside the home. Diaz said all the victims appear to have lived here.
Initial reports indicate that an 11-year-old child survived. Authorities say they got out of the house by climbing out of a window, then ran to a neighbors house to call 911.
"We are working with that child to determine what happened as well," said Chief Diaz. "And then also try to figure out how to get that person the resources and services that are needed."
Police have not released an exact cause of death for the victims.
On Monday, people dropped flowers off at the front of the burned home. FOX 13 News spoke to neighbors who tell us the victims lived in the area for a few years. They said their kids would always play in the backyard.
They tell us they are shocked and heartbroken by this devestating loss of life.
SPD Chief Diaz mentioned that in their preliminary investigation the front door of the home appeared to have been barricaded.
"We do know that the front door was barricaded with some sort of object that officers were trying to kick down and try to open the front door," said Chief Diaz. "There also was the fire going on, so they were overcome with the smoke, so they ended up retreating and that's when we started working in conjunction with the fire department."
Seattle Fire Department Chief Harold Scoggins told FOX 13 that their units are still working through the hot spots. At this point, it is unknown if the fire was intentionally set. The SFD's bomb unit and arson investigators remain at the scene.
Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area as they continue their investigation.
The Seattle Department of Transportation sent out an alert at around 9:15 a.m. saying that two right northbound lanes are blocked on Aurora Ave. N.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.