On a tragic day in Belfair, Washington, the life of 18-year-old Tory Carlson was cut short in a devastating act of violence. On February 26, 2016, Tory, a young man with a passion for the culinary arts, was found dead alongside his 16-year-old brother, Quinn Carlson, and their 49-year-old mother, Lana J. Carlson. The horrific event unfolded at their rural property, leaving the community in a state of shock and disbelief.
Tory, who was a student at Olympic College pursuing his dream of becoming a chef, was remembered as a hardworking and respectful young man. He and his mother had been making plans to start a food truck business together.
The grim discovery was made after law enforcement responded to a chilling 911 call from a man who admitted to having shot four people. That man was 51-year-old David Wayne Campbell, Lana Carlson's husband and the boys' stepfather. When deputies arrived at the residence, a tense standoff ensued for several hours. During this time, a 12-year-old girl, who was related to Campbell, managed to escape the home unharmed. The standoff concluded when Campbell emerged from the house and took his own life in the presence of law enforcement officers.
Inside an outbuilding on the property, authorities found the bodies of Tory, Quinn, and Lana. A fourth victim, a neighbor named Donna Reed, was also found deceased. The investigation concluded that Campbell was the sole perpetrator of the killings, making the incident a murder-suicide. As Campbell died by his own hand at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with the murders. The motive for the devastating rampage remains unclear. The loss of the Carlson family, who were described by friends as loving and deeply connected to their community, left an indelible scar on the small town of Belfair.
