Shooting at Luxury Island Home Leaves Two Dead
An 80-year-old artist and her 45-year-old son were found dead with gunshot wounds at a multi-million dollar home on Mercer Island, Washington, on Tuesday morning. Police have described the incident as an apparent homicide followed by a suicide.
Detectives confirmed they were called to the property on SE 46th Street around 10.45am on 30 December after an attorney for the artist reported receiving a concerning email the night before that raised fears for the occupants' safety.
The victims were identified as Danielle Cuvillier, 80, and her son Mackenzie P. Williams, 45. Investigators believe Williams was the shooter and his mother was the victim.
Second Scene Reveals Further Tragedy
As part of their investigation, Mercer Island Police requested a welfare check at a second property, located 14 miles away in Issaquah. There, officers discovered two more bodies.
A woman in her mid-40s and a man in his mid-30s were found at a $1 million residence on SE Evans Lane. The family's lawyer later confirmed the male victim was Nick Williams, Cuvillier's younger, mentally-disabled son and Mackenzie's brother. The second woman has not been publicly named.
Police stated the deaths at the two locations are linked and assured the public there is no wider threat to the community.
A Community in Mourning
Danielle Cuvillier was a well-known and well-liked local artist in her seventies who sold her work to establishments like the Barrels Wine Bar on the affluent island. The wine bar had previously praised the beauty of her creations in a social media post.
Friends and neighbours remembered her as a sweet, easygoing, and dedicated mother. Nick Williams, her younger son, was a familiar face in the community. A local taco vendor, Nico Morales, said Nick ate at his truck daily and would brighten his day with signs and hugs.
In a statement, the family's lawyer said: "Danielle’s friends and family are in a state of shock, grief and utter disbelief at the news of her and her loving son Nick’s deaths."
Police Commander Jeff Mangan told media that three to four firearms were recovered from the Mercer Island home and are being treated as evidence. He noted that while murders on Mercer Island are rare, police often see an uptick in domestic violence cases during the holiday period. The motive for this tragic sequence of events remains unknown.
