In Gig Harbor, WA, a peaceful residential cul‑de‑sac was transformed into a scene of unspeakable violence on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, when a 32‑year‑old man went on a stabbing rampage that left multiple people dead, including his own mother. The incident has sent shockwaves through the tight‑knit community and plunged a local family into deep grief.
According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, deputies first received a call at about 8:41 a.m. reporting a suspected violation of a no‑contact protection order at a home on 87th Avenue Court Northwest in the Wauna area near Gig Harbor.
Court records indicate a protective order had been issued last year by a local judge after the suspect’s mother sought legal protection from him because of escalating threats and concerning behavior, but the order had not yet been formally served, meaning it was not legally in effect.
While deputies were en route to deliver the order, multiple 911 callers around 9:30 a.m. began reporting that a man was actively stabbing people outside the home. The first deputy arrived within minutes and, encountering an active threat, shot and killed the suspect at approximately 9:33 a.m. to stop the violence.
Among the stabbing victims was 52‑year‑old Zoya Shablykin, a beloved mother who had been living at the home and who had previously filed for legal protection because of safety concerns related to her son. Zoya died at the scene of catastrophic wounds inflicted during the attack.
According to local reporting, three neighbors were also killed in the rampage individuals who tried to intervene and protect Zoya when the violence began. A fourth neighbor was critically injured, rushed to hospital by first responders from Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One and Key Peninsula Fire, but later succumbed to injuries, bringing the total number of stabbing victims to four. The identities of the neighbors have not been released as authorities continue to notify next of kin.
The loss has particularly devastated Zoya’s immediate family. Her 30‑year‑old daughter, Anastasia, and her 11‑year‑old child who were reportedly safe at a separate location at the time of the attack are now grappling with the dual shock of losing a beloved mother and grandmother and the violent disruption of their family life. Friends and acquaintances describe Anastasia’s grief as profound, saying it has been difficult for her to process that the tragedy is real.
Community members have rallied around the surviving family, offering support, condolences, and vigils in honor of the victims. Local authorities have appealed to the public for privacy as the Pierce County Force Investigation Teamcontinues its detailed probe into both the stabbings and the circumstances that allowed the protective order to remain unserved.
This heartbreaking event highlights urgent questions about navigating severe mental health issues, domestic violence protection protocols, and community safety and it leaves a lasting imprint on a community unaccustomed to such violence.
