MAPLE FALLS, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham man was killed and another person was seriously injured in a pair of related shootings in Whatcom County over the weekend, one of which that involved law enforcement.
Bellingham Police say it began when a 34-year-old man was left in critical condition following a shooting on the early morning of Saturday, April 25, on N. Red River Road on the Lummi Reservation.
An investigation by Lummi Nation Police, the FBI and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office identified two Bellingham residents as suspects in the shooting who were staying at a property in Maple Falls.
A Special Response Unit with the Sheriff’s Office arrived at the property on Kendall Road early Sunday evening, April 26, to arrest the suspects, but it escalated into shots being fired. One of the suspects, identified as 36-year-old Luis Fernandez, was shot and killed.
No one else was injured during the exchange.
The other suspect, identified as 38-year-old Kayla James, was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of two counts of attempted homicide in addition to robbery and residential burglary. She remains at the jail without bail.
The Sheriff’s Office has requested an independent investigation of the officer-involved shooting in Maple Falls, which is being led by Bellingham Police. Anyone who was in Maple Falls near Kendall Road early on Sunday night who may have heard or seen anything related to the investigation is asked to contact the Bellingham Police Department at 360-778-8611 or using an online tip.
Anyone with information on the initial shooting on N. Red River Road on the Lummi Reservation is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
The Lummi Nation Police Department and FBI have not responded to My Bellingham Now for additional comment.
