Officer involved in fatal shooting in Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A Bellingham police officer shot and killed an armed man Sunday who had just stabbed a man in the neck, investigators say.

At about 4:20 p.m., Bellingham police were called to the 100 block of East Holly Street for a report of a stabbing.

People who witnessed the stabbing followed the suspect to the 1400 block of Railroad Avenue, where a Bellingham police officer tried to stop the man.

Police say the man, who was still armed with a knife, refused multiple commands by the officer to drop the knife and then came toward the officer.

The officer backed away from the man and continued to order him to drop the knife, but the suspect refused and the officer shot him. The suspect died at the scene.

The victim of the stabbing was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital.

The Law Enforcement Multi Agency Response Team, headed by the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, is investigating the officer involved shooting.

The Bellingham Police Department is investigating the stabbing incident.

Cox Media Group