In what has been described as a shocking act of violence, 63-year-old Paul Richard Courtney, a male resident of Parkland, Washington, was fatally shot in his home on the evening of October 10, 2025. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Courtney died from a shotgun wound to the chest and ruled his death a homicide. The incident, which unfolded in the 400 block of 142nd Street Court South, led to the swift arrest of his son, 41-year-old Michael Paul Courtney.
The tragic evening began as Paul Courtney and his wife were watching a baseball game in separate rooms. The mother of the suspect reported hearing her son talking to someone upstairs. When she inquired who he was speaking with, her husband went to investigate. Moments later, she heard her husband's chilling question, “Are you pointing a gun at me?” immediately followed by a gunshot. She ran to the stairs to find her husband lying there, with her son allegedly standing over him. She then fled the house and called 911.
Upon their arrival at approximately 8:05 p.m., Pierce County sheriff's deputies found Paul Courtney at the top of the stairs with a chest wound. Despite receiving medical aid, he was pronounced dead in an ambulance at 8:27 p.m. Michael Courtney was still inside the residence and initially did not comply with deputies' commands. After a period of negotiation, he surrendered to law enforcement at 8:52 p.m. Investigators later recovered a 12-gauge shotgun from a bed in the house.
Michael Paul Courtney has been charged with first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. At his arraignment on October 13, 2025, a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf. Citing concerns for his mental health, prosecutors noted that the shooting appeared to be without any apparent reason. A judge set his bail at $1 million and ordered him to have no contact with his mother. Public records indicate that Michael Courtney has prior convictions for assault and obstruction. He is currently being held at the Pierce County Jail, with his next court hearing scheduled for November 13.
