Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Seattle, WA: UPDATE 2: West Seattle couple found dead in apparent murder suicide

Update for Oct. 19, 4:30 pm
The man who called 911 and told police "I shot my wife" and then apparently took his own life has been identified by other media sources at this time as Harvey Spicer. Public records show he was 79 years old and his wife was 80.

SPD's Mark Jamieson told The Seattle Times Spicer suffered from dementia and owned several firearms. Jamieson said the SPD was familiar with Spicer and had contacted him in the past.

Spicer's wife was reportedly seriously ill, recovering from a recent surgery and possibly suffering from Alzheimer's, according to KIRO.

More details from Det. Mark Jamieson added at 9:10 a.m.

A man and woman living on the 2600 block of 50th Ave S.W. were found dead after a SWAT team entered the home shortly after 7 a.m., according to the Seattle Police Department.

Police responded to a 911 call shortly after 3 a.m. from the man, who said "I just shot my wife," and then hung up, according to SPD Det. Mark Jamieson.

SPD patrol and SWAT investigators barricaded the home, uncertain of the situation inside and after getting no response over the course of four hours, entered and found both the man and woman dead inside one room of the house. The two were described as "elderly" in age.

Jamieson said he believes the two were husband and wife, but final verification will come upon medical examiners establishing identity.

"It's looking like a murder-suicide," Jamieson said, adding an "educated guess" is both died from gunshot wounds, although medical examiners will have to establish the actual cause of death.

Police continue to investigate.

More details to come.

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