On March 13, 2018, four-year-old Ava Grace Field was shot and killed in her Spanaway, Washington, home. The child, remembered for her pigtails and constant smiles, died alongside her two-year-old brother Ashen Conner Field and their 32-year-old mother Samantha Dayle Field. The only family member left physically unharmed was the family dog.

Samantha Field was weeks away from earning a Paralegal Degree from American Military University and had been active in mothers’ groups, often involving her children in activities like cooking to create learning moments. The family had lived in New Mexico and Georgia while her husband was stationed there.

Ava’s death is part of a single incident that also claimed her brother and mother; the case records identify the father as the person who carried out the shootings. Does anyone have information about the family or the weeks leading up to March 13, 2018, that could help piece together what happened?