Man shot dead by police in downtown Bellingham

A man armed with a knife was shot to death by police Sunday in downtown Bellingham, moments after another man’s throat was slashed a block away, according to the Bellingham Police Department.

One man was stabbed in the neck around 4:18 p.m. outside the Horseshoe Cafe, 113 E. Holly St., by a second man who ran from the scene, according to police.

Witnesses chased the suspect a block north to the downtown Whatcom Transportation Authority bus station, Bellingham police Lt. Danette Beckley said.

A Bellingham police officer reported shots fired at 4:23 p.m. The man died at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Beckley did not immediately know how many shots were fired.

“All I know is that the suspect was armed with a knife when the officer contacted him,” Beckley said.

Later, she confirmed that only one male officer, who was wearing a body camera, opened fire. She gave an official account in a prepared statement around 8 p.m. Sunday at the police station.

“The suspect – still armed with the knife – refused multiple commands by the officer to drop the knife, and advanced on the officer,” Beckley said. “The officer tried to create distance by backing up, while giving commands to drop the knife. The suspect refused to drop the knife, and was shot.”

Meanwhile, an ambulance rushed the man who was stabbed to St. Joseph hospital, police said. His condition was unknown as of late Sunday night.

Within an hour of the shooting, about two dozen law enforcement officers converged on the scene, cordoning Railroad Avenue with crime scene tape, interviewing eyewitnesses, and marking the location of evidence with white spray paint on the asphalt. The man’s body was covered by a white sheet. Feet from the body by a parking space outside of Everyday Music, 115 E. Magnolia St., a silver folding knife sat with the blade out. A police drone hovered overhead, surveying the scene.

Many law enforcement officers on scene were from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, which will lead a multi-agency investigation into the shooting. Police routinely call in outside agencies to investigate officer-involved shootings.

Bellingham police will investigate the stabbing, Beckley said. Scarce information has been released about the confrontation on Holly Street. Officers plan to review witness statements and security footage from downtown businesses.

Names and ages of those involved have not been released. Bellingham police declined to release any information about the officer, except to say that he has been placed on paid administrative leave – the department policy in all police-involved shootings.

Investigators blocked the intersection of Railroad and Magnolia into the night.

This story was originally published March 12, 2017 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Man shot dead by police in downtown Bellingham."