In the early morning hours of July 25, 2024, in Vancouver, Washington, the life of 32-year-old Carissa Larkin, a Caucasian female, was tragically cut short. While in the parking lot of her apartment complex on Plomondon Street, preparing to take her youngest child to school, she was confronted by her ex-fiancé, Kyle Palmer. The encounter escalated with shocking violence as Palmer opened fire, killing Larkin before turning the gun on himself in a devastating murder-suicide.
At the time of the attack, Larkin was holding her four-year-old son, who was grazed by a bullet but survived the horrific event.
The grim scene unfolded around 8:20 a.m., with a witness reporting a man with a gun followed by the sound of gunshots. When police arrived, they discovered the bodies of both Larkin and Palmer. Friends and family later revealed the turbulent history that preceded the fatal shooting. Larkin had separated from Palmer months prior, in March, and had not been in contact with him since early April. Fearing for her safety, she had successfully obtained a domestic violence protection order against him. In her petition for the order, she had expressed concerns about Palmer's ownership of firearms and a fear of retaliation.
In the wake of this tragedy, Carissa Larkin is remembered by loved ones as a vibrant and caring mother of three children, two daughters and a son. Described as the light of any room she entered, her friends recall her as a strong and kind-hearted soul who was dedicated to her children. The investigation into the incident confirmed that Palmer was the shooter and that he died by suicide at the scene. Consequently, no arrests were made in connection with Larkin's death as the sole suspect was also deceased.
