BELLINGHAM, Wash.- A suspect is in custody following a Halloween party shooting near WWU.
Bellingham Police said that two men had gotten into an altercation in the 500 block of E Myrtle St around midnight on Friday.
The suspect, 22-year-old Brian Pantoja, shot the 21-year-old victim in the chest before leaving the area.
Officers arrived to find witnesses attempting CPR on the victim, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators were able to get a detailed description of Pantoja, and learned that he had been involved in a hit-and-run crash earlier in the day.
His car was later found in a parking lot in the 1900 block of Alabama Street.
Bellingham K9s were called, and led officers to a nearby apartment.
Pantoja was arrested as he left the apartment to get into a waiting car.
As a previously convicted felon, he is not allowed to legally own a gun.
He faces first degree murder charges and an unlawful possession of a firearm charge.