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Gig Harbor Today
By the People, for the People
Gig Harbor community mourns 4 killed in Key Peninsula stabbing
Vigil held to honor mother and three neighbors who were fatally stabbed
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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About 100 people gathered in Gig Harbor, Washington to remember a mother and three of her neighbors who were killed in a stabbing on February 24. Investigators say a 32-year-old man killed his mother and three neighbors before deputies shot and killed him.
Why it matters
The tragic stabbing has deeply impacted the close-knit Gig Harbor community, with residents coming together to support the victims' families and lean on each other during this difficult time.
The details
On the morning of February 24, 32-year-old Aleksandr Shablykin fatally stabbed his mother Zoya Shabliykina and three of her neighbors - Stephanie Killilea, Joanne Brandani, and Louise Tally - who had tried to intervene. Deputies shot and killed Shablykin after arriving on the scene.
- The stabbing incident occurred on February 24, 2026.
- A vigil was held on Wednesday, March 5, 2026 to honor the victims.
- Another community vigil is being planned for Saturday in Purdy.
The players
Aleksandr Shablykin
A 32-year-old man who killed his mother and three neighbors in a stabbing incident.
Zoya Shabliykina
The mother of Aleksandr Shablykin, who was fatally stabbed by her son.
Stephanie Killilea
One of Zoya's neighbors who was killed in the stabbing.
Joanne Brandani
One of Zoya's neighbors who was killed in the stabbing, and a member of the Gig Harbor Arts Commission.
Louise Tally
An elderly neighbor of Zoya's who was killed in the stabbing, and a volunteer with the local chamber of commerce.
What they’re saying
“Right now, I pray that you lift up this community”
— Gary Rudd, Chaplain with the Gig Harbor Fire Department and Police Department (fox13seattle.com)
“An opportunity to light cameras and show that light overcomes darkness in our lives”
— Gary Rudd, Chaplain with the Gig Harbor Fire Department and Police Department (fox13seattle.com)
“I've felt this tragedy very strongly. I've been in Gig Harbor since 1989, nothing like this do I ever recall happening and it just was so tragic”
— Fiona Johnson, Community member (fox13seattle.com)
“We gather in love to honor four beautiful lives that were taken from us far too soon. We are here because they mattered. Because they were kind. Because they gave of themselves for the benefit of others. Because they made this community brighter simply by being part of it.”
— Mary Barber, Gig Harbor Mayor (fox13seattle.com)
“Doing it by yourself is really challenging and difficult, and really not possible. This is a part of coming together and sharing with one another in the grief so we can come together as a community to heal”
— Gary Rudd, Chaplain with the Gig Harbor Fire Department and Police Department (fox13seattle.com)
What’s next
Another community vigil is being planned for Saturday in Purdy.
The takeaway
The tragic stabbing has deeply impacted the close-knit Gig Harbor community, but residents are coming together to support the victims' families and heal as a community during this difficult time.
