In the pre-dawn hours of February 3, 2018, a family dispute in Longbranch, Washington, ended with two people shot and killed in the driveway of a home on Whiteman Road SW. Beth Hamlin-Slawson, 24, and her husband Lukas Slawson, 35, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Their two-year-old son was in the vehicle at the time but was not physically harmed.

The confrontation began when Beth and Lukas drove to her parents’ property to confront Cory Nathan Mason, who was dating Beth’s younger sister and living on the premises. The dispute reportedly involved the sale of a handgun and allegations of domestic violence. Accounts describe Beth striking Mason’s car with a sledgehammer while her mother tried to intervene; Lukas reportedly fired at another vehicle belonging to Mason. Mason then exited his car and, after a further argument with Beth, shot her in the chest and shot Lukas when he approached. Mason called 911, saying he acted in self-defense, and was arrested walking away from the residence.

Mason was charged with two counts of second-degree murder but, after nearly 14 months in custody, prosecutors dropped the charges in April 2019, saying they could not disprove his self-defense claim beyond a reasonable doubt. Is there anyone who was at the scene or who knew the family and can share what happened that morning?