CENTRAL KITSAP – Detectives from the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office continue to comb through leads and interview anyone with information about the March 28 double homicide at the Kariotis Mobile Home Park.
Deputies and officers who responded to the scene of the shooting were met by a chaotic and unsettled situation. Several people called 911 to report multiple gun shots in the mobile home park.
As deputies arrived in the area, one of the callers reported that a gun shot victim was at their residence. Two sheriff’s deputies responded to that residence and contacted a 22-year-old male who had suffered from at least one gunshot wound. The deputies retrieved their emergency first aid gear and provided first aid and assessed the victim for additional injuries.
At the time, the location of the gunman was unknown and thus the scene was considered unsecured or “hot.” As a result, medics were unable to enter to treat the victim.
The two deputies stabilized the victim as best they could, placed him into a blanket and carried him to a waiting patrol car which they used to initiate a “tactical rescue” — removing him from the scene and transporting him to a waiting medic unit. This victim was later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
As the deputies treated the first victim, they learned of the other location where additional victims were said to be. Other deputies, along with officers from the Bremerton Police Department, responded to this location where they found Heather Kelso, 29, and Kaden Lum, 2 years old.
A Bremerton Police Officer took custody of Lum, who was gravely injured, and transported him to a waiting medic unit. Lum was transported to Harrison Memorial Hospital where he died. Kelso was deceased at the scene.
The 22-year-old male victim who was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center is now recovering and has spoken with Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Deputies and officers worked to secure the scene and called in a K-9 Deputy to search for a suspect. A sheriff’s office K-9 team responded to and searched the mobile home park but was unable to locate any suspects.
At this time, the entire KCSO detective division is working to identify and locate a suspect in this homicide. A large amount of evidence has been recovered and is currently being processed by detectives and personnel from the Washington State Crime Lab.
Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to call 911 as soon as possible.
