AUBURN, WA – On Friday night, a Washington State community was shaken to its core when Malki Loeak, a 29-year-old father, was fatally shot in his own residence. Despite deploying a helicopter and K-9 units, the King County Sheriff’s Office found no sign of the gunman near Watermark Apartments in Auburn.
Speaking exclusively to King 5, Jeffrina Loeak, Malki’s partner, shared the horrifying sequence of events that permanently altered the lives of her and their four children. Loeak reported that an unknown individual had knocked on their door, obscuring the peephole. Upon opening the door, Malki was immediately shot. First responders declared him dead upon arrival at the scene.
The devastating ordeal was even more traumatic as it unfolded in front of the couple’s children, including their two-year-old daughter, who the mother claims is still struggling to cope with what she witnessed. Loeak worries about the lengthy emotional recovery ahead for her children, contemplating future therapy.
In discussing the deceased, Loeak heaved praise on Malki’s character, describing him as a beloved individual with a big heart. His death shocked everyone in the community, as Malki had no known disputes or criminal history. He worked as a pest control specialist, routinely visited homes to provide services, and was widely appreciated by his customers.
While the investigation is still ongoing, Jeffrina uses the celebration of her late partner’s life to fill the silence left by the perpetrator’s actions. She described Malki as a hardworking, dedicated family man and a committed caregiver to more than just their immediate family, as he took care of his mother, her grandmother, their brothers, and her mother. While living without their family’s backbone, she now faces overwhelming responsibilities, including bill payments and funeral planning.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established in her name to alleviate some of the financial pressures associated with these circumstances, even as the hunt for the prime suspect continues.