Tragedy unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in West Seattle when 57-year-old Tamara "Tammy" Towers Parry was shot and killed during what was reported to be the serving of legal paperwork at her home. Identified by the King County Medical Examiner, Towers Parry was well-known for her controversial past, including her involvement in the January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol.
According to police reports, the incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on the corner of Southwest Hudson Street and Lewis Place Southwest. Two individuals—one of whom was connected to the paperwork being served on Towers Parry—arrived at her residence, which was facing foreclosure. The house was reportedly sold at auction the day before the incident, indicating the stress of impending eviction may have played a role.
Upon exiting her home, Towers Parry allegedly presented a shotgun at the individuals. What happened next was swift and tragic: one of the men, aged 40, fired his handgun, shooting her fatally. Police later confirmed she died at the scene from "multiple gunshot wounds." The other individual involved, also present to serve the paperwork, has been cooperating with the investigation, and no arrests have yet been made, as law enforcement continues to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
The firearms involved have been recovered, and Seattle Police Department spokesperson Det. Brian Pritchard clarified to media sources, emphasizing, "The shotgun was not fired." This raises significant questions about whether Towers Parry intended to use her weapon or simply presented it as a form of intimidation.
Towers Parry's background is steeped in controversy, having gained notoriety as a participant in the Capitol riot, where she was seen sporting prominently displayed QAnon symbols. Her actions on January 6 were recorded and streamed online, where she claimed to have "stormed the Congress" and called for the arrest of President Biden. This led to her license being revoked by the Washington State Medical Commission for failing to comply with mandatory mental health evaluations following investigations stemming from her behavior post-insurrection.
Notably, during her medical career, she had been respected as a family practitioner affiliated with various medical institutions. Following the Capitol riots, many of those institutions distanced themselves from her due to her actions and the negative public attention they generated. The community around her home also noticed drastic shifts; once regarded as friendly and engaged, Towers Parry's demeanor changed significantly, perhaps aligning with the increasingly isolationist sentiments driven by her fervent beliefs.
Neighbors reported seeing displays of QAnon slogans, including phrases like "Where We Go One, We Go All" plastered on her driveway. One neighbor, Chris Englund, expressed, "She was a medical doctor, the family practice and hospitals she worked with had to disassociate themselves from her because of her behavior. Storming the Capitol was not a positive thing to do." This paints a clear picture of the transformation Towers Parry underwent over the last few years.
The immediate aftermath of her death has left the West Seattle community shaken. There are emotions running high across the neighborhood, as neighbors who once knew her took to social media to voice their confusion and concern over the deadly escalation they witnessed.
Joel Beherndt, another neighbor, highlighted this change, stating, "I think over the last few years, she definitely was keeping to herself quite a bit more, probably since the last election, to be honest." This introspection hints at the broader discontent some feel as they reflect on Towers Parry's path from respected medical professional to embroiled participant in political unrest to the grim circumstances of her death.
The investigation remains open as police continue to gather evidence and eyewitness accounts. With no charges filed against the man who shot her and both individuals cooperating, the outcome of this case remains uncertain. The entire neighborhood continues to grapple with its impact, questioning how such tragic violence could erupt over what began as the simple act of serving legal documents.
The case of Tamara Towers Parry is more than just about the shooting; it’s about the complex narrative of her life and how one's choices can spiral dramatically, leading to dire consequences. It serves as a stark reminder of how politics can intertwine tragically with personal lives, culminating in events nobody could foresee but many feel ripple through the community.