



BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Police launched a murder investigation Tuesday night after firefighters found a dead woman inside a smoky apartment with injuries "consistent with homicidal violence."



The incident occurred at the Avalon Meydenbauer Apartments at 10410 NE 2nd Street.



Bellevue police spokesman Seth Tyler said firefighters responded to the building at about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday after a reported "water flow" fire alarm, indicating a fire sprinkler had been activated.



Firefighters found the alarm had originated on the sixth floor, and entered an apartment where a small fire was found and quickly extinguished. They found a dead woman inside the apartment and called police.



"Upon arrival, officers discovered that the deceased female inside the unit had injuries that were consistent with homicidal violence," Tyler said.



Detectives with the Bellevue Police Department investigations division, along with arson investigators with the Bellevue Fire Department, were conducting an investigation at the scene.



Police didn't disclose how the woman died, but said it wasn't from the fire and wasn't a suicide. Police said they are investigating it as a homicide, and they believe the fire was intentionally set.



Detectives are interviewing residents in the building who may be potential witnesses. They'll also be studying surveillance video. Each hallway of the complex has a camera and detectives believe the suspect may have been captured on one of them.



This is the first homicide investigation in the city of Bellevue this year.



