WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – Two deputies injured in a shooting in Whatcom County’s Peaceful Valley are recovering.
Sheriff Bill Elfo says both are stable.
One has been transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment by a specialist while the other is being cared for at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.
We’re learning more about the circumstances surrounding the shooting near Maple Falls Thursday.
Bellingham Police are leading the investigation and say the incident began when a neighbor of 60-year-old Joel B. Young began burning a fire that sent smoke into Young’s home.
He had apparently been drinking and became enraged, producing a shotgun and firing bird shot in the air near the neighbor.
Two sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene in the 3000 block of Green Valley Drive just after 4:30 p.m. and Young came out of his house with the shotgun and fired on them.
One deputy was hit in the head and fell to the ground while the other returned fire.
He was also hit in the head by a shotgun blast.
A neighbor fired his weapon at Young in defense of the deputies who were pulled to safety.
Young retreated to his home and SWAT teams from the sheriff’s office and Bellingham Police responded.
Young surrendered shortly after 6 p.m.
He was arrested for two counts of attempted 1st Degree Murder and is being held in the Skagit County Jail.
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