Ferndale officer fired fatal shots in Maple Valley SWAT response, authorities say
The law enforcement officer who fatally shot a 36-year-old Bellingham man Sunday while taking him into custody has been identified as an officer with the Ferndale Police Department.
Luis Fernandez, 36, and Kayla James, 38, of Bellingham were wanted for their suspected role in a Ferndale shooting Saturday that left a 34-year-old man in critical condition.
Bellingham Police Department Lt. Claudia Murphy said the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Unit, which is composed of the Crisis Negotiations Team and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, went to a property in Maple Falls the following evening after learning that Fernandez and James were there.
The WCSO SWAT Team is made up of deputies and officers with the Ferndale and Lynden police departments.
While attempting to take the two into custody, a WCSO SWAT officer who works for the Ferndale Police Department fired multiple shots, hitting Fernandez. He died at the scene of his injuries.
Murphy said the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with Ferndale Police Department’s policy.
The Law Enforcement Multi-Agency Team (LEMART) is conducting an independent investigation of the officer-involved shooting, with BPD leading the effort. Anyone with information about the officer-involved shooting is asked to contact LEMART by calling 360-778-8611 or online at cob.org/tips.
Lummi Nation Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are continuing to investigate the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 800-225-5324.
James was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Lummi Nation Police charges of two counts of attempted homicide, robbery and residential burglary. Probable cause was later not found for the homicide charge.
James remains in custody in lieu of an $18,000 bond for warrants on charges unrelated to the shooting.