North Sound News

Shuttle driver reports seeing man with rifle near WWU

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A driver for Western Washington University’s late-night shuttle said he was approached by a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle early Tuesday.

At 4:07 a.m., the driver told University Police he parked the shuttle at the Bellingham university's Physical Plant at Douglas and 25th streets and got out when he was approached by a man with an apparent rifle slung over his right shoulder.

The driver told police the man said, "Don't worry about all this. There are a lot of bad people out tonight that I need to take care of."

The driver then got back into the shuttle and drove away.  He last saw the man walking southeast away from campus toward Douglas.

University police said the man was described as white, about 6 feet tall, wearing dark pants and a lighter top and some kind of hat or cap.

Both University and Bellingham police searched for the man in the area of the Physical Plant, but no one was found.

Anyone who sees a man fitting the description in the area is asked to immediately call 911.