Daniel Lynam

Case details

Daniel Lynam was identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s office as Daniel Patrick Lynam, 36 years old. He killed seven members of his family and then killed himself when police went to his home.

The offence

The gunman, who police said killed his parents, his two children, his wife and her parents, shot to death all four victims whose bodies were later found at three homes in the Tacoma area. All four of those killed in Tacoma died of gunshot wounds to the head, possibly as early as Friday. Police said a .38-caliber pistol was believed to have been the weapon. Police said there was no explanation for the shootings at three homes, which may have begun as early as Friday.

Investigation

Sgt. Steve Smith of the Tacoma police said:

"We're sure that all of the incidents are all tied together," "It is a family."

On Saturday evening, the same night these four victims were found, police in King County outside Tacoma received a call from an anonymous man. The caller said his brother had just telephoned him and had told him of killing some people and of preparing to kill himself. The caller directed police to the house in Federal Way.

The caller’s information included that his brother had a history of mental illness.

Arrest / Police entry

Police were met by a man at the Federal Way house who told them to stay back and added, "I don't want to hurt you."

About 10 minutes after officers had arrived, they heard a noise inside the house. They entered a few minutes later and found Daniel Lynam, his wife, and their children dead of gunshot wounds.

Victims and places

Police found the bodies of Daniel Lynam’s parents at their home in north Tacoma and the bodies of his wife’s parents at their separate home about three miles apart in north Tacoma.

Police found the bodies of Daniel Lynam, his wife, and their 2-year-old daughter and 5-week-old son at their rented house in Federal Way, 10 miles north of Tacoma.

Timeline

• Saturday night — Bodies of Daniel Lynam’s parents and his wife’s parents were found at their two separate homes in north Tacoma about three miles apart.
• Saturday — Bodies of Daniel Lynam, his wife, and their 2-year-old daughter and 5-week-old son were found at their rented house in Federal Way, about 10 miles north of Tacoma.
• Saturday evening — Police in King County received a call from an anonymous man who said his brother had telephoned and told him of killing some people and preparing to kill himself; the caller directed police to the house in Federal Way.
• Friday — Police said the gunshot wounds to the head of the four victims found in Tacoma may have occurred as early as Friday.
• Same day — Daniel Lynam committed suicide by shooting himself when police went to his home.

Other details

Daniel Lynam was described by relatives and acquaintances as a loner and as a man with a history of mental problems who had trouble keeping a job. Police said Lynam killed his parents, his two young children, his wife and her parents on Friday and Saturday before taking his own life. Motive was reported as unknown in the killings.