Victim in Monday’s shooting death identified; Bellingham police searching for suspect
The Bellingham Police Department has identified the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred in the woods in north Bellingham early Monday morning, April 15.
The victim was identified as 30-year-old Zachariah N. Janusiewicz, of Everson, according to a Bellingham police Facebook post.
The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Janusiewicz’s death a homicide. He died from a perforating gunshot wound to the torso, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Bellingham police began investigating the homicide, which took place in the woods near Tull Road off Kellogg Road, early Monday.
Police responded to the area after multiple 911 calls were made stating that shots could be heard from the woods just after 3 a.m. on April 15. Officers arrived to find a group of people assisting a man, later identified as Janusiewicz, who had been put into a cart and was suffering from “obvious gunshot wounds to the upper body,” according to Megan Peters, a spokesperson with the Bellingham Police Department.
The people assisting Janusiewicz did not identify themselves to police, but were described as assisting the police by Peters.
Aid was provided to Janusiewicz and he was taken to a hospital, where he later died, Peters said.
Bellingham police obtained search warrants Monday to go onto the private property in the area to investigate the homicide. K9 units and ‘Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ were also used to search for additional victims and evidence. The Bellingham Police Department SWAT team responded to provide security during the investigation, police said.
As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, no arrests have been made.
Bellingham police are continuing to investigate the homicide, and are asking anyone with knowledge of the events or circumstances leading up to Janusiewicz’s death to contact detectives at: (360)-778-8770 or www.cob.org/tips.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published April 15, 2024 at 2:18 PM.
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