Tragedy on the Key Peninsula: Four People Killed in WA Stabbing By Cochran Douglas on February 26, 2026

The Morning of February 24, 2026

Around 8:40 a.m. local time, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a possible violation of a no-contact protection order being carried out by a man at a home on 87th Avenue Court Northwest in Wauna, an unincorporated area of Pierce County on the Key Peninsula, northwest of Tacoma and near Gig Harbor.

When deputies confirmed the protection order had not yet been formally served on the subject, they headed to the address to deliver it. While they were en route, multiple emergency calls came in reporting that a man was violently stabbing people outside the home.

Police say the first deputy arrived at the scene minutes later - and shots were fired at approximately 9:33 a.m. The suspect was shot and killed by the responding deputy at the scene.

The Suspected Assailant: Aleksandr Shablykin

Local news outlets, court records, property records, and law enforcement officials have identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Shablykin. According to published accounts and court filings:

In May 2025, Aleksandr’s mother - Zoya Shablykin - obtained a one-year protection order against him in Pierce County Superior Court.
Her petition alleged that her son had been mentally and emotionally abusive, had damaged her belongings, and was engaging in disturbing behavior around the home.
She described “witchcraft/occult behavior” and “rituals” in the house, stating that she found the home in disarray after returning to it and that her cat was missing and the smoke detector was going off - situations she felt were tied to her son’s behavior.
Court records also cited threats, with the mother saying her son once told her, “Your grave has already been dug.”
The protection order barred Aleksandr from possessing dangerous weapons, required him to stay at least 1,000 feet away from his mother and her property, and mandated that he adhere to a prescribed mental health treatment plan.
It is still unclear why the order had not been physically served to Aleksandr before the stabbing occurred.

The Victims and the Violent Act

When law enforcement reached the scene:

Four adults were found stabbed to death outside the home. Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and one succumbed to wounds later at the hospital.
Authorities have not yet publicly released the identities of the victims, and it remains unclear whether they were family members, neighbors, or others present at the home.
The suspected assailant, Aleksandr Shablykin, was killed by a responding sheriff’s deputy during the incident.

Background: Mental Health and Legal Actions

Coverage of the case indicates that Aleksandr had a history of mental health concerns going back several years - including indications of delusional thoughts, grandiosity, and command hallucinations - and that multiple restraining or protection orders were filed by family members since 2020.

Neighbors and local residents have described the area - typically a quiet, close-knit community - as “shocked” by the violence.

Law Enforcement Response

The investigation into the attack is now being led by the Pierce County Force Investigation Team alongside the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Officials have said they are reviewing the circumstances leading up to the stabbing - including why the protection order had not been served prior to the violence.

The Key Peninsula and Gig Harbor area are part of a region known for its scenic waterfront communities and relatively low rates of violent crime. Such an event has provoked deep concern among residents and regional leaders alike, with local statements underscoring both the tragic loss of life and the importance of community safety and support.