A man who allegedly walked into Walmart, broke open the gun case with a blunt object and stole a shotgun, was detained an hour later in the woods near the store, police said late Wednesday night.
Jimmy R. Brashears, 35, of Lynden, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary, reckless endangerment, theft of a firearm, second-degree malicious mischief and obstructing law enforcement officers, Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said in an email. Brashears was transported to Whatcom County Jail.
Bellingham Police Department initially responded to an active shooter call at 5:30 p.m. at the Walmart, located on Guide Meridian.
Brashears had attracted the attention of employees and shoppers because he was holding a blunt object and pacing back in forth in the firearm section of the store.
He allegedly used the object he was carrying to break open the gun case, police said, before taking out a 12-gauge shotgun and attempting to break the ammunition case with the buttstock of the gun.
When Brashears heard and saw police cars arrive, he allegedly fled through the store’s emergency exit and into the woods behind Walmart, according to police.
BPD and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office set up a perimeter around the wooded area and a K-9 team worked to track Brashears.
Residents saw Brashears walking along the 4400 block of Hannegan Road. He then tossed the shotgun in a bush and police were able to detain him, Murphy wrote in an email.
Cascadia Daily News will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.
