BELLINGHAM — Police say they’ve identified a suspect in the stabbing death of a Skagit County man in the York neighborhood on Sunday, but they’re not releasing his name yet.
David L. Datskiy, 20, of Mount Vernon died after being stabbed during an altercation on James Street near Gladstone Street on Sunday afternoon.
A man in a white four-door 1998 Cadillac DeVille stopped behind Datskiy, who got out of his car. The two exchanged words and the suspect stabbed Datskiy once in the upper abdomen before driving away.
The suspect is described as a white man, 5-foot-8, medium build, bald, no facial hair, wearing a blue shirt and black pants. Bellingham Police Lt. Steve Felmley said the suspect lives in Whatcom County and has an extensive criminal record.
Police continue to search for him and fear releasing his identity would compromise the investigation, Felmley said.
Though the incident was first reported as road rage, police remain unsure of exactly what led to the fight.
Datskiy’s passenger told police he didn’t notice the Cadillac following them until right before the incident, and there is no indication that Datskiy and the Cadillac driver were racing or driving aggressively before the stabbing.