In the late afternoon of Sunday, November 26, 2023, in the small community of Medical Lake, Washington, the life of 11-year-old Lilea "Lilly" Stolworthy, a White female, came to a tragic end. Deputies from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office were called to a street near her home around 4:40 p.m. following reports of an injured girl lying in the road. Upon arrival, they discovered Lilea, who was then rushed to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries, from which she ultimately did not survive. The Spokane Medical Examiner later confirmed that she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Lilea was a sixth-grade student at Medical Lake Middle School, remembered as a smart, focused, and caring girl who loved crafting, her cats, and spending time with her friends.
The suspect in Lilea's death was identified as her older brother, Jordan Brownlow. Witnesses reported seeing Lilea approach her brother, heard a gunshot, and then saw a Ford Mustang speeding away from the scene. Roughly 20 minutes later, law enforcement located the Mustang just a few blocks away. Inside the vehicle, they found Brownlow slumped over with a pistol in his hand, suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an apparent murder-suicide attempt. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition and placed on life support so that his organs could be donated.
The events that unfolded had their roots in a period of turmoil. Lilea had reportedly run away from home around Thanksgiving, and during her absence, some of her belongings were given to her brother for safekeeping. On the day of the shooting, she had returned home and went with Brownlow to his car to retrieve her items. It was after she did not return to the house that her mother went outside to check and made the devastating discovery of her daughter lying injured in the street.
In the wake of the tragedy, Lilea's mother spoke about the profound mental health struggles that both of her children were facing, stating that the shooting was not an act of anger or vindictiveness. She described the immense burden her children felt they were carrying. The community of Medical Lake mourned the loss of the young girl, gathering for a candlelight vigil to remember a child described as having a big heart and being a wonderful friend.
