In the pre-dawn hours of February 3, 2018, a family dispute in the quiet community of Longbranch, Washington, escalated into a tragedy that left two people dead. Beth Hamlin-Slawson, a 24-year-old Caucasian female, and her husband, Lukas Slawson, 35, were shot and killed in the driveway of her parents' home. The couple had a two-year-old son who was in their vehicle at the time of the incident but was physically unharmed.
The events of that fatal morning stemmed from an ongoing family
conflict. Beth and Lukas had driven to her parents' residence on Whiteman Road SW, where they confronted Cory Nathan Mason, who was dating Beth's younger sister and living at the property. The confrontation was reportedly about the sale of a handgun and allegations of domestic violence involving Mason and Beth's sister. The situation quickly intensified, with Beth allegedly using a sledgehammer to strike the car Mason was in. Her mother, who was also in the vehicle, attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation.
As the chaos unfolded, Mason moved the car a short distance away while Lukas Slawson reportedly began firing a gun at another vehicle belonging to Mason. Mason then got out of his car and, following a further argument with Beth, shot her once in the chest. When Lukas approached, asking if Mason had shot his wife, Mason shot him as well. Both Beth and Lukas Slawson were pronounced dead at the scene.
Cory Nathan Mason was arrested by Pierce County sheriff's deputies as he was walking away from the residence. He had also called 911 to report the shooting, claiming he had acted in self-defense. Mason was subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder. However, after spending nearly 14 months in jail, the charges against him were dropped in April 2019. Prosecutors concluded that they could not disprove his claim of self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt, citing the chaotic and rapidly evolving nature of the incident.
