Police officials recently confirmed that an 11-year-old child called the police after their parents killed each other while fighting at their home in Cowlitz County, Washington, on the night of Halloween.
In a Thursday press release, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said, “Cowlitz 911 received a report of a shooting at a residence in the 4700 block of Olympia Way, Longview. Deputies with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and found two adult residents down in the kitchen area of the residence. Deputies and medics with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue rendered first aid, but both subjects succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased on scene.”
The two adults were identified by law enforcement officials as 38-year-old Juan Antonio Alvarado Sanz and 39-year-old Cecilia Robles Ochoa. The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the two adults “were married and resided together” in the Washington home and that an 11-year-old child was the only other person at the house at the time of the incident.
Officials noted that the child “did not witness the altercation” and that the child was in a different room “playing video games while using earbuds.” However, the child later called 911 after “finding their parents down, with one having been shot.”
READ MORE: Gov’t takes child from parents over puberty blocker objections
According to Thursday’s press release, detectives with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant and searched the couple’s residence following the incident. After conducting multiple interviews, detectives discovered that Alvarado Saenz and Robles Ochoa had experienced difficulty in their relationship and had intended to split up prior to the altercation on Halloween.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office added, “Autopsies have been conducted on both subjects. Alvarado Saenz died from multiple stab wounds to the chest. Robles Ochoa died from gunshot and stab wounds.”
According to The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, police detectives found a pistol and a knife at the house. The pistol was reportedly stolen from Alvarado Saenz’s employer prior to the couple’s altercation. While police officials announced that the autopsy results indicate that “both subjects were assaulting each other,” officials have not yet determined a “primary aggressor.”
