On Friday night he had entered a branch of Macy’s at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, just over 65 miles north of Seattle, and opened fire at the make-up counter. He killed four women, aged 16 to 95, instantly. A fifth victim, a man who was airlifted away from the scene, died later.

Cetin had a violent past, had been arrested for drunk driving and was recommended by a judge not to be allowed to own a firearm.

Skagit County court records show three domestic-violence assault charges against Cetin, with the victim identified as his stepfather.

Cetin was told by an Island County district court judge on December 29 that he was not to possess a firearm, but the stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, which would require him to surrender his gun - saying his stepson was "going through a hard time".