Charges dismissed in Bellingham attempted murder case after judge’s PC ruling
The charges against a 20-year-old Bellingham man accused of attempted first-degree murder have been dropped, and his case has been dismissed after a judge ruled that there wasn’t enough evidence to establish probable cause.
Alexis Molina was arrested Nov. 15, 2024 on suspicion of the attempted murder of his roommate, who was shot five times the previous day while bringing groceries into their apartment. Police found there was probable cause to arrest Molina after finding a gun in a safe in his apartment that was the same caliber as the weapon used in the shooting, according to court records.
However, his attorneys argued that there was insufficient evidence for a search warrant, and that any evidence found in Molina’s apartment shouldn’t be considered. A judge agreed, ruling in July that the search warrant was invalid because there wasn’t a “reasonable inference” that Molina was involved in criminal activity.
The case was dismissed without prejudice Aug. 5, and Molina was released from jail the same day. Because the case was dismissed without prejudice, it can still be reopened and refiled later.