‘He didn’t deserve to be treated like this.’ Whatcom community remembers shooting victim
The Whatcom County community is remembering the life of Henry King, 48, who was shot to death Sunday, March 12, on the boardwalk between Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park.
King grew up in Bellingham and was known as Hank to those close to him.
“We were close friends — lifelong friends,” said Bellingham native Jason Sanders of his relationship with King. “But he had a really troubled childhood.”
King experienced loss early in his life when his mother died, according to friends. King then lived with his grandmother until she died when he was in high school.
Sanders remembered skateboarding and spending time outdoors with King when they were kids. King even helped construct a skateboard ramp in Sanders’ childhood backyard. King also helped Sanders rebuild and remodel his mother’s house.
King found his way into construction work as an adult, Sanders told The Bellingham Herald. But his struggles with mental health made keeping jobs and housing challenging, friends said.
“He was a great guy. Big heart. Wouldn’t harm anything,” Sanders said. “He just had some trouble.”
King eventually fell into homelessness and was a familiar face at Boulevard Park where he was known to spend time over the last several years. On Thursday morning, an impromptu memorial for King was in place on the bench where he often sat.
King sold sports cards at Boulevard Park and frequently engaged in positive conversation with people walking by.
A note taped on the memorial bench reads: “Henry King was a good man under difficult circumstances. He was amiable and always happy to talk about sports, baseball cards and the nature he watched from his bench. We will miss him. Rest in peace.”
Another childhood friend of King’s, Tate Pazaski, told The Herald he was overjoyed to see the outpouring of support from the Bellingham community.
“Seeing comments from people I don’t even know — the community really got to see who Henry was,” Pazaski said.
John Sandstrom, owner of JEKK Sports Cards in Ferndale, told The Herald that King bought sports cards at his shop several times a week.
“Henry started coming in about a year ago,” Sandstrom said. “He would sit and dig for sometimes up to four hours.”
Sandstrom said King touched the hearts at the store. He described King as very respectful and “the sweetest man in the world when he opened up and talked.”
Sandstrom is raising money via GoFundMe to assist with King’s funeral expenses.
A separate GoFundMe raised money to submit a donation to the city of Bellingham for a commemorative bench in honor of Henry. The now-closed fundraiser raised more than $2,000.
King died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office. His body was found offshore near Taylor Dock. Bellingham police said Thursday, March 16, they were still attempting to identify any suspects and did not have a motive for King’s homicide.
“He was a really kind person and he didn’t deserve to be treated like this,” Sanders said.
