BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Early Sunday, July 17th, 2 groups of people were reported fighting in downtown Bellingham. 2 participants pulled handguns from vehicles and began shooting into the crowd, leaving 2 with wounds requiring hospitalization.
Bellingham Police Department (BPD) Lieutenant Claudia Murphy issued a press release today, July 17th, stating BPD were dispatched to the report of shots being fired shortly after midnight and immediately responded. Their investigation identified Gawain Allen Orcutt, age 23, from Mount Vernon, as 1 of the 2 shooting suspects.
BPD believe Orcutt shot a 42-year-old in the foot resulting in a non-life-threatening injury, fired rounds at 2 other persons in a car and then fled.
More than a dozen shell casings from 2 different weapons were recovered at the scene.
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Click for more informationA BPD K-9 unit found Orcutt walking downtown and was ordered to stop and get on the ground. Instead, he reportedly looked away and kept walking. The K-9 unit was able to work together to take him into custody.
Investigators also believe a second shooting suspect shot a 20-year-old in the leg resulting in a serious injury. This suspect remained at large according to Murphy.
Orcutt was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail charged with 3 counts of 1st degree assault with a deadly weapon.
At the time of his arrest, Orcutt was out of custody after posting a $250 cash bail in February while awaiting trial in Whatcom County Superior Court where he is charged with 2nd degree assault with substantial bodily harm stemming from an incident in Bellingham in July 2020.
As of 7:30pm, July 17th, Orcutt remained in custody pending being able to post a $150,000 bond.
BPD are asking for assistance in locating witnesses to these events and the identity and location of the outstanding suspect. Anyone with information can contact the BPD in either of the following ways.
- Phone tip line: 360-778-8611
- Email tip line: www.cob.org/tips
This criminal shouldn’t have even been out. That’s our soft on crime judges and DAs that don’t care about your safety. It’s only going to get worse folks. Conceal carry like I do at all times if you can.
What? Out on bail with $250 deposit for his previous crime?
This happens way to often and people need to seriously think about who they’re voting into office. You HAVE to have judges and officials who enforce the laws and carry through with due punishments.