Five family members were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in the Orchards neighborhood of Vancouver, Washington.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office, after responding to a welfare check request at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2023, discovered the bodies in a residence located in the 11500 block of Northeast 92nd Street.
A man fatally shot his wife, their two adult daughters, and his brother before taking his own life. The victims have been identified as Stuart Rouse, 64, his wife Christina, 62, their daughters Melissa and Kristina and his younger brother Brian Rouse. The family members lived in the house where the incident occurred and were identified by a daughter-in-law, Anne Aquino, the wife of the surviving son Kristoffer.
The welfare check was prompted by a text message received from one of the family members stating they had “harmed others” at the house. Upon arrival, deputies were unable to make contact with anyone inside the home. Due to the possible presence of a gun and the failure to contact the relatives, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office sought help from the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team.
An unmanned aircraft system (drone) deployed inside the home revealed that several people appeared to be dead. Following this, SWAT members and Tactical Emergency Support medics entered the home and confirmed the fatalities. The investigation, still in its early stages, has led authorities to believe the incident to be a murder-suicide involving a firearm.
Neighbors reported hearing screaming outside the house at one point, but deputies did not hear any sounds upon their arrival. According to Sergeant Chris Skidmore of the Sheriff’s Office, the deputies approached the scene with caution due to the information about firearm involvement.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has assured the community that there is no ongoing danger. They have also confirmed that there were no previous calls for police at this home, and no criminal history was found associated with the family.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
