BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A man who reportedly was shot by his own weapon while law enforcement were attempting to arrest him on Thursday, March 2nd has died from his injury.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Bellingham Police Department (BPD) personnel had been involved in a vehicle and foot pursuit with a 40-year-old Bellingham man who is a suspect in several felony crimes including 1st-degree robbery and theft of a firearm when they eventually located the man near the northbound lanes of I-5 near the Old Fairhaven Parkway (SR11) interchange.
BPD Lieutenant Claudia Murphy said the suspect and law enforcement personnel were separated by a fence while orders to surrender were being given. Instead of surrendering, the suspect began to move and a less lethal munitions launcher was used to fire a stabilized flexible baton at the suspects thigh area. Immediately following, law enforcement personnel heard a gunshot and saw the suspect fall to the ground. Officers approached, determined he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and began lifesaving measures.
The suspect was transported by Bellingham Fire Department medics to PeaceHealth St Joseph’s Medical Center in critical condition.
Murphy told Whatcom News the suspect remained in critical condition at the hospital as of late Saturday, March 4th. Yesterday, March 7th, Murphy sent Whatcom News an email saying the man had died.