Tragedy in Seattle: Teen Charged in Family Murders

A 15-year-old boy near Seattle is accused of murdering his parents and three siblings. After blaming his younger brother, his 11-year-old sister, who survived by playing dead, revealed the truth to authorities. The teen will face trial with potential transfer to adult court.

A 15-year-old boy is facing charges for allegedly murdering five family members in a shocking incident east of Seattle. Initially, he aimed to blame the killings on his younger brother, but police reports indicate his sister, who played dead during the shooting, identified him as the perpetrator.

On Thursday, the teen was formally charged in juvenile court with five counts of aggravated murder. Washington state law stipulates that a hearing is needed to determine if the case will be transferred to adult court. The incident reportedly stemmed from the boy getting into trouble at school.

The family's youngest daughter survived with an injury and informed detectives that the handgun used belonged to their father and was accessible only through a code known to the defendant. Authorities detained the teen soon after the 911 call and made the grim discovery inside the family home.

(With inputs from agencies.)