From the Seattle PI: Renton woman attacks neighbors with machete, burns to death

What the…..! This is very tragic, and very strange.

Update: Email from our police department:

Just in case you get any calls regarding the fire last evening here is what we know:

Police are called to 654 NE 6th Place about 7:45 p.m.
Victim (22 year old female) and just arrived home with 4 year old boy
Suspect (52 year old female) starts chasing victim with a knife and machete. Victim suffers superficial scratches.
Victim goes to neighbors house and phones 911
Police arrive on scene, suspect is already inside the duplex
As police are attempting to negotiate with the suspect, the house erupts in flames
Fire is covering both exits from the house, so officers shoot bean bags through the windows in an attempt to create an escape route for the victim
Fire arrives, extinguishes fire
Suspect is found dead inside the duplex

At no time, did the police department deploy tear gas or any other form of chemical into the house
There were several vocal neighbors last night that spoke with the media indicating that we had set the house on fire, this is simply not true
Early reports from the fire department indicate that the probable cause of the fire was gasoline inside the home

We had responded to this residence before, the suspect was exhibiting signs of mental instability during those contacts

Here is the PI Story:_________________________________

Renton woman attacks neighbors with machete, burns to death
P-I STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

RENTON – A 52-year-old woman threatened her neighbor with a knife and machete, then retreated to her own half of a duplex, which erupted in flames. She was found dead inside, police reported Monday.

Renton police spokeswoman Penny Bartley said police responded Monday night to a call for help from the woman who lives in one half of a Renton Highlands duplex. She said she had just arrived home shortly before 8 p.m. with a small child when her neighbor came at her with the weapons. The woman suffered some superficial wounds and fled to a neighbor’s house to call for help.

The armed woman’s half of the duplex erupted in flames as police arrived. Although they broke out a window with beanbag rounds, she did not attempt to leave.

Bartley says police had recently responded to other reports of the 52-year-old being armed with a knife.

The dead woman was not immediately identified. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

More on this story, with video of the fire, on King 5 News