Detectives say Roy man killed nephew with machete, then shot self in head while driving

TACOMA, Wash. – Pierce County sheriff’s detectives said they believe a 27-year-old man killed his nephew with a machete, then shot himself in the head while driving early Sunday morning.

Police said they found Christian Brayton unconscious and bleeding in his truck after it hit a fence at Joint Base Lewis McChord just after 3 a.m. Sunday. Once they investigated, they determined Brayton had likely shot himself in the head while driving.

He died at the scene.

A couple hours later, deputies were called to a house in Roy by somebody who said their neighbor was screaming about his son killing his grandson.

They said they found 12-year-old Jesse Brayton inside, dead of apparent machete wounds.

The boy’s grandfather told deputies that Jesse and Christian Brayton had been getting along just fine that night, playing video games. Deputies said they believe Christian Brayton might’ve been suffering from mental-health issues.