A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder after someone was shot at an apartment complex Thursday evening, Nov. 14.
Bellingham police responded to the complex in the 500 block of Sterling Drive after multiple 911 calls were placed reporting an injured person, said Megan Peters, the public information officer at the Bellingham Police Department. There, they found a victim with multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was transferred to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and is in critical condition, Peters said.
During the investigation, surveillance footage showed the victim carrying groceries while walking toward their apartment, which they share with the suspect, when they collapsed, Peters said. Multiple gunshot flashes are seen above the victim, indicating the victim was shot multiple times as they tried to crawl away, police said.
Police were able to obtain a search warrant, Peters said. Inside the apartment, they found a small safe with a 9mm handgun inside that was consistent with evidence found at the scene.
The 19-year-old was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail at 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. He will have a preliminary hearing Monday, Nov. 18.
Additional units also arrived at the area because an extra patrol had been pre-planned due to previous reports of gunshots in the area between Nov. 9 and Nov. 12, Peters said. Suspects have not been identified in those incidents.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone who has information about the attempted murder and the previous shots fired reports can contact BPD at 360-778-8611. Tips can also be submitted online at www.cob.org/tips.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
