Washington Man Kills Self After Slaying 7 in His Family

A man reported to have had a history of mental illness methodically shot to death seven members of his family, then killed himself when police came to his home, authorities said.

“It’s a pretty shocking, grisly event,” Tacoma Police Sgt. Stephen Smith said. Investigators said they did not know what touched off the shootings, and were searching for clues Sunday.

The King County medical examiner’s office identified the man, who in two days killed his mother and father, his two children, his wife and both of her parents, as Daniel Patrick Lynam, 36.

Lynam’s parents and his in-laws were found dead Saturday night in their homes in north Tacoma, which are about three miles apart. The bodies of Lynam, his wife, 2-year-old daughter and 5-week-old son were found in their rented house in Federal Way, 10 miles north of Tacoma.

Dick Larson of the King County police said that Lynam, before he shot himself, telephoned his brother and told him he had killed some people and was going to harm himself. The brother said that Lynam had suffered in the past from mental illness.

When police arrived at Lynam’s house, he was outside. They said he told them: “Get out of here, I don’t want to have to hurt you!” Then he went back inside and killed himself, Larson said.

Police said that all the victims had been shot in the head with the .38-caliber handgun that was found near the dead suspect.

They were identified as Lynam’s wife, Linda; his daughter, Shaina; his son, Jason; his parents, Thomas and Frances Lynam, and his in-laws, Jack and Willie May Hall. Tacoma Police Sgt. Chuck Howard said that the Halls were slain in their condominium Friday night, but their bodies were not found until Saturday afternoon.

Larson said that the family had lived in the rented, ranch-style house for about two months, neighbors did not know them and authorities had no previous address for them.