Bellingham police arrest suspect in attempted Target carjacking, but seek accomplice
Bellingham police have arrested a 16-year-old juvenile they suspect attempted a carjacking of a woman earlier this month outside Target at Bellis Fair and are continuing to search for his adult accomplice.
The juvenile male from Bellingham, whose name has not been released, was booked into the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Center Dec. 10 on suspicion of first-degree robbery and second-degree attempted theft of a motor vehicle, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald.
At approximately 10:31 p.m. Dec. 3, the victim left Target with a shopping cart full of merchandise she had just purchased, Murphy said.
As she approached her car, she noticed two men wearing hoody sweatshirts near her car — one wearing all black and one all red — Murphy said. Both had the hoods over their heads.
The victim loaded her car and attempted to get in the driver’s seat, Murphy said, and it was at that point that the two suspects approached the victim’s car.
The juvenile suspect stood guard at the rear of the car, while the adult suspect shoved his hand into the victim’s face, pushing her into the center console. He then reportedly tried to get into the car, while the juvenile suspect got into the passenger seat and closed the door.
The victim and adult suspect struggled, Murphy said, and a witness arrived to attempt to lend aid. The victim and the adult suspect then ended up outside the car, and the adult suspect reportedly ran off.
At that point, the juvenile suspect got out of the car with the victim’s purse in his hand, and both suspects fled toward Ashley Furniture, Murphy said.
K-9 Destro was brought in to track the suspects and ended up recovering the victim’s purse and its contents, Murphy said.
Further investigation revealed forensic evidence that linked the juvenile suspect to the crime scene, Murphy said, and officers arrested him.
Surveillance cameras at the mall captured video of the crime, and on Monday, Dec. 9, the Bellingham Police Department posted photos on its Facebook account and asked for the public’s help in locating the suspects.
“Detectives and officers are looking for the second suspect in this case,” Murphy told The Herald.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 11:49 AM.
