WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) issued a press release today, Tuesday, June 20th, announcing the arrest of a drive-by shooting suspect.
On Saturday, June 17, 2023, around 9:30 pm deputies responded to a drive by shooting in the 7600 block of Custer School Rd. Probable cause was developed for 2 counts of drive by shooting with a possible suspect being a 17-year-old juvenile male. A suspect vehicle was developed but the suspect was not located. A bullet was recovered from the scene.
A few hours later on June 18, 2023, around 12:48 am, a Bellingham Police Officer acting on information provided by the Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle in an alleyway in the 1800 block of Texas St. The vehicle took off and attempted to elude Bellingham [Police] traveling to the dead end of North Shore Rd where it crashed into a tree. The suspect in the earlier shooting was identified as the driver and sole occupant and was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was under the influence and struck a fence in the 3000 block of North Shore Dr during the pursuit. The suspect was not injured, and Bellingham [Police] booked him for Attempting to Elude, DUI and Hit and Run.
Inside the vehicle a handgun, magazines and ammunition could be seen. The vehicle was impounded by the Sheriff’s Office and a warrant was obtained. With the assistance of CSI [crime scene investigation] Deputies and Bellingham Police the warrant was served on the vehicle. Two handguns and a Kel-Tec .9mm rifle were recovered along with magazines and ammunition.
The suspect was booked into Whatcom County Juvenile Detention by the Sheriff’s Office on the additional charges of 2 counts of Drive by Shooting, 3 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and 2 counts of Unlawful Firearm. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (June 20, 2023)