Neighbors reported arguing and several shots before officers arrived Saturday morning.
OLYMPIA, WA — Olympia police investigating a report of arguing followed by gunfire found three people dead inside a home Saturday morning in northwest Olympia, authorities said. Officers were called to 19th Court Northwest just after 10:30 a.m. and discovered a man and two women with apparent gunshot wounds.
The deaths set off a multiagency investigation as detectives worked to piece together what happened inside the residence and identify the people who died. Police said there was no sign of an ongoing threat to the wider community, but officials had not publicly explained what led to the gunfire, how the victims were connected, or whether anyone else was involved. Investigators said they were working with the Washington State Patrol’s forensic crime team and the coroner’s office as they reviewed evidence and witness accounts.
Neighbors told authorities they heard an argument, then shots that cut through the quiet of a residential street near 20th Avenue Northwest and Elliott Avenue Northwest. Peter Marcoe, who lives nearby, said he and others heard three loud sounds in quick succession and wondered if it was gunfire. “And then a few minutes later, there was one more,” Marcoe said. He said the neighborhood dog began barking and, when he looked outside, he saw police cars rushing down the road. The first calls came in late Saturday morning, and officers arrived to secure the scene and begin a methodical search of the home, police and witnesses said.
Inside the residence, officers found three adults dead, police said. Authorities have not released their names or ages, saying identifications were still being confirmed through the coroner’s office. An Olympia Police Department statement called the deaths “a tragic loss of life” and said the agency was keeping the victims’ families and loved ones “in our hearts during this difficult time.” The department said it recognized that incidents like this can ripple beyond the immediate victims, affecting neighbors and the broader community, and it thanked residents who provided information quickly to dispatchers and officers as the first patrol units arrived.
Investigators have not said whether the three people were related, whether all of them lived at the home, or whether the shooting unfolded in a single room or across different parts of the property. Officials also have not described the firearm involved or whether more than one gun was used. One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said they heard a single gunshot, then a woman yelling. The neighbor said they heard another gunshot followed by a scream, then a third gunshot, after which the yelling stopped. Police have not said whether those accounts match what investigators found inside, and they have cautioned that early details can change as evidence is processed.
Police said detectives were continuing to work alongside the Washington State Patrol’s forensic crime team, which can assist with documenting scenes, collecting physical evidence, and analyzing items such as shell casings and other trace material. Coroner staff also responded as part of the death investigation, which typically includes confirming identities and determining the cause and manner of death. Olympia police said they were also looking into whether the case could involve a murder-suicide, but they did not provide a timeline for when they expect to share more. In the meantime, investigators remained focused on witness interviews, scene reconstruction, and results from forensic work.
The home sits in a neighborhood of closely spaced houses and narrow streets in northwest Olympia, where neighbors said they were startled by the sudden sound of gunfire. Some residents described seeing police vehicles converge quickly and officers establishing a perimeter as they worked to keep people away from the property. Police said they were grateful for the information residents provided, and they asked community members to avoid the area during the initial investigation so detectives could work without interruption. While authorities have not released details about what prompted the arguing reported by witnesses, investigators said they were piecing together the moments leading up to the shots through interviews and evidence collected at the scene.
As of Monday evening, police said the investigation remained active and that there was no indication of a continuing threat to the community. Authorities have not announced arrests or charges, and they have not said whether anyone else was present or sought in connection with the deaths. Anyone with information related to the incident was asked to contact Olympia police dispatch. Investigators said additional updates would depend on the pace of forensic testing and the coroner’s work to confirm identities.
Author note: Last updated February 9, 2026.