Victim Of Gruesome Murder/Suicide Taken Off Life Support

"SPOKANE VALLEY, WA - Spokane County Sheriff's deputies say the boy shot in the head Sunday in a gruesome murder-suicide has been taken off life support.

"Investigators say the boy, 9, was shot in the head by Jan R. Demeerleer, 39, his step-father.

"Police say Demeerleer also killed the boy's mother and slashed his 17-year-old brother's throat in the same attack early Sunday morning. After a massive search for Demeerleer, he was found later that day on the floor of his garage, dead of an apparent gunshot wound.

"A 911 call came in at 2:49 a.m. Sunday from 600 N. Ella in Spokane Valley from the teen whose throat was slashed. He told operators he woke up to his step-dad slashing his throat and found his mother dead in the kitchen. Investigators say when officers arrived, they learned the suspect had also shot the teen's 9-year-old brother in the head, but the 9-year old's twin brother was not hurt.

"At about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, the boy was pronounced brain dead. He was taken off life support and died of his injuries Monday morning.

"After finding the crime scene, officers launched a manhunt for Demeerleer, effectively using the 911 callback program to inform Demeerleer's neighbors about his appearance, what car he might be driving, and the potential danger in their neighborhood. SWAT set up around his Northwoods home in the 8300 block of East Briant.

"Autopsies for both Demeerleer and the female victim are scheduled for Monday to determine the official causes of death.

"During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect and the female victim were engaged to be married. They had live together for a period in the Northwoods home."

From KING5.com...