Two suspects are now in custody following a shooting in downtown Bellingham early Sunday morning that left two victims hospitalized.
Gawain Orcutt, 23, of Mount Vernon, was arrested Sunday shortly after one man was shot. Brian L. Kilete, 27, of Blaine, was arrested Monday afternoon in connection to another man who was shot during the same incident, Bellingham Police reported.
Shortly after midnight Sunday, two groups of people were fighting in the alley parking lot behind The Underground Nightclub in the 200 block of East Chestnut Street, according to a police report.
Officers were alerted to shots fired in the downtown area and found two men, aged 42 and 20, who had been shot in the foot and lower leg, respectively.
Camera footage showed Orcutt was involved in a fight, according to the report. He grabbed a handgun from his car before firing multiple rounds in the direction of the crowd.
Orcutt found the 42-year-old man hiding near a dumpster and shot him in the foot at close range. Orcutt then fired more rounds toward an occupied car.
In camera footage, Kilete is seen coming into the area with a handgun, according to the report. Kilete fired multiple rounds, injuring the 20-year-old victim. Kilete next fired his gun into a crowded parking lot. Officers later found four cars had been struck by bullets.
Officers spoke with Kilete shortly after the altercation, and Kilete said he was in a car during the shooting. He was allowed to leave.
Bellingham Police found Orcutt walking downtown and arrested him on suspicion of three counts of first-degree assault and booked him into the Whatcom County Jail at 3:10 a.m Sunday. A drive-by shooting charge was added on Monday.
Through camera footage, detectives saw Kilete was responsible for much of the shooting. Kilete was identified as a regular at one of the nightclubs and detectives were able to confirm his identity through a Department of Licensing photo.
Kilete was contacted by detectives Monday, arrested without incident and booked into the Whatcom County Jail. He is being charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, drive-by shooting, second-degree malicious mischief and third-degree malicious mischief, according to police.
