Son's Stabbing Rampage Leaves Mother and Three Neighbors Dead in Washington
A violent domestic tragedy unfolded in a quiet Washington neighborhood on Tuesday morning when a 32-year-old man stabbed his mother to death and killed three neighbors who heroically attempted to intervene. The attacker was subsequently shot and killed by responding police officers.
Deadly Morning in Gig Harbor
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin, 32, was gunned down by Pierce County Sheriff's deputies outside the family's $800,000 home in Gig Harbor, Washington, at 9:33 a.m. on Tuesday. Deputies had been dispatched following a 911 call reporting that Shablykin was violating a restraining order, but arrived too late to prevent the bloodshed.
Officers discovered Zoya Shablykin, 52, and three other victims outside the residence, with one victim lying in the middle of the quiet cul-de-sac located just a few miles from Puget Sound. According to the sheriff's statement, Shablykin was shot by one of the deputies and died at the scene alongside three of his victims. The fourth victim succumbed to injuries while being transported to a nearby hospital.
History of Mental Health Issues and Threats
Court documents reveal that Zoya Shablykin had obtained a protective order against her son last April after years of escalating threats and disturbing behavior. In her petition, she described how her son "believed he was an Egyptian god" and performed "occult rituals" while threatening family members. She also reported that he had injured her cat during one incident.
"He has been threatening me, abusing me both mentally and emotionally," Zoya wrote in her April 4 petition. She described herself as an "elderly disabled woman" who felt her son was "taking advantage of me and my health."
At a subsequent hearing regarding the temporary restraining order, authorities documented that Shablykin "has been having escalating mental health issues, which include grandiosity, auditory hallucinations and command hallucinations." The order further explained that his "current command hallucinations tell him he is a god and that Petitioner must obey him."
Neighbors' Heroic Attempts to Intervene
A family friend provided harrowing details to the Daily Mail, stating: "Alex killed four people today - his mother Zoya and three neighbors who tried to help her. Then the cops rolled in as he was killing the third one and they shot and killed him."
The friend expressed frustration with the police response time, claiming: "The response time by the police was s**t, they didn't show up until he stabbed four people." However, police have since clarified that the no-contact order was not yet valid because it had not been served to Shablykin. Officers were actually en-route to deliver a copy of the order to serve the suspect when he initiated his stabbing spree.
Family Trauma and Aftermath
Zoya's daughter Anastasia, 30, and her 11-year-old granddaughter were safely at her partner's home when the attack occurred. The family friend described it as a "very sad day" for Anastasia, adding: "I don't think it has really sunk in yet, she thinks she's having a bad dream."
Anastasia faced the heartbreaking task of informing her grandmother - Zoya's mother - about her daughter's death. The entire family are Russian immigrants who had been living in the United States.
The family friend revealed they were in the process of establishing a fundraiser for Zoya's funeral expenses. Meanwhile, neighbors described the surreal scene that unfolded in their typically peaceful community.
Neighborhood Shock and Investigation
One neighbor recounted running outside after hearing four gunshots and seeing the knife-wielding attacker moving his arm before he "didn't make it." The witness described seeing "a woman lying next to the mailbox stabbed and another body between the building and the neighboring one to the north, covered by white sheet."
"It's so surreal, you don't think happen in your neighborhood," the neighbor added, noting that the family had experienced problems since Shablykin moved in approximately seven years earlier.
According to court records, Shablykin had been arrested numerous times since 2020, primarily for driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. He also faced a trespassing charge in January 2023 that was later dismissed with prejudice.
The Pierce County Force Investigation Team has now assumed control of the investigation into the stabbing rampage. The identities of the three neighbors who lost their lives while attempting to help Zoya Shablykin have not yet been publicly released as authorities continue their investigation into this tragic series of events.
