Kyle Aaron Huff

Mass Murderer

Kyle Aaron Huff and the 2006 Capitol Hill Massacre

Background

Kyle Aaron Huff was a 28-year-old man responsible for the Capitol Hill massacre in Seattle, Washington, on March 25, 2006. During the early-morning attack, Huff entered a private residence where young people had gathered after attending a dance event. He opened fire with a shotgun and a handgun, killing six people and wounding two others before taking his own life as a police officer confronted him outside the house. Huff was born on September 22, 1977, and grew up in Whitefish, Montana. He later moved to Seattle with his identical twin brother, Kane Huff. The brothers shared an apartment in North Seattle. Kyle Huff held several delivery jobs and generally lived a quiet and isolated life. People who knew him offered conflicting descriptions, with some remembering him as polite and reserved while others recalled a temper and periods of emotional withdrawal. Before the massacre, Huff had only a limited criminal history. In 2000, he was arrested in Whitefish after firing a gun at a fiberglass moose that was part of a public art display. He was originally accused of a felony but eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge. Firearms seized during that investigation were later returned to him after he paid restitution and completed the requirements of the case.

The Better Off Undead Event

On the night of March 24, 2006, a zombie-themed dance event called Better Off Undead was held at the Capitol Hill Arts Center in Seattle. Hundreds of people reportedly attended during the evening. The event itself had security personnel and ended without a major violent incident. Huff attended the event even though he was not a recognized member of Seattle's rave community and apparently knew few, if any, of the people present. During the night, he was invited to an informal after-party at a house approximately one mile away. The residence was located at 2112 East Republican Street in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Huff arrived at the house sometime during the early morning of March 25. Witnesses later said he initially appeared quiet and did not create a disturbance. He spent time inside the residence with the other guests before leaving. His departure did not immediately cause concern because attendees were regularly entering and leaving the gathering.

Preparing for the Attack

After leaving the house, Huff went to his pickup truck, which was parked nearby. He armed himself with a Winchester Model 1300 Defender 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a Ruger P944 .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol. He also carried a large quantity of ammunition. Investigators concluded that Huff had brought an extensive collection of weapons and ammunition into the neighborhood. Inside his truck, police later found a Bushmaster XM15 E2S rifle, another handgun, additional ammunition, a baseball bat and a machete. The rifle and several of the other weapons were not used during the massacre. Authorities later examined Huff's computer activity and personal behavior. A Seattle Police Department review concluded that he may have been contemplating an attack before the night of the killings. Employees at another entertainment venue reportedly remembered seeing him sitting in his truck and observing people arriving for events. Investigators also found indications that he had searched for information about upcoming dance gatherings. However, police never established a definitive motive. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Jeremy Robert Martin 26 yr old Male

Capitol Hill massacre