BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A 28-year-old Blaine man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder after a fight broke out in Bellingham, officers with the Bellingham Police Department announced Thursday.
Police said early Thursday morning, a fight broke out between Shelby James Best, 28, and 30-year-old Joshua Paulley-Davenport after they had been socializing in Bellingham’s Fairhaven neighborhood.
Officers said Best assaulted Paulley-Davenport – who fell onto the ground unconscious.
Despite medical intervention, police said Paulley-Davenport died from his injuries.
Police said when the bars in Fairhaven were closing, Best, Paulley-Davenport and a third person returned to Paulley-Davenport’s residence to continue socializing.
According to police, Best had planned to stay the night at Paulley-Davenport’s residence.
The third person said he was in a different part of the house when he heard sounds of the two males wrestling.
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"The two men were checked on and Paulley-Davenport had a swollen left eye … and was telling Best to leave the residence. Shortly after, the third person found Paulley-Davenport lying on the walkway outside the home, unconscious and bleeding" an official with the Police Department wrote in a news release.
Officers arrived on scene and medics attempted to perform lifesaving measures, but Paulley-Davenport succumbed to his injuries, officials said.
Police said Best fled the scene, but his car was found parked near the Fairhaven neighborhood.
Around 4:50 a.m., police said they found Best and he was taken into custody without incident. Police said Best had “notable abrasions and cuts on his hands,” and said he was booked into the Whatcom County Jail.
"I am grateful and appreciative for the officers and medics who did everything they could to help Joshua," said Chief David Doll, "as well as the efforts by patrol and detectives to apprehend Best as quickly as they did."