The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said two young children and their parents are dead in a murder-suicide in Spanaway, Washington .

According to Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer, deputies and SWAT officers went to the home about 50 miles south of Seattle after a man called 911 at 1 a.m. Tuesday and said he killed his wife and two children.

“He thanked us for our time, but said by the time we got there he would be deceased as well, and he followed through with that,” Troyer said.

>> Read more trending news

SWAT officers arrived and tried to talk the man out of the house, but received no response.

When officers eventually entered the house, they found the bodies of a 29-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and their two children, a 2-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. All had gunshot wounds. The wife and children were in their beds.

The man was a member of the Air Force who was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The family was from New Hampshire.

Police are investigating what events led up to the homicides. Troyer said there had been no previous police calls at that address.

About the Author

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com