1 dead, 1 jailed after police shooting in Whatcom County

A man suspected in a shooting on the Lummi Reservation was shot and killed by deputies a day later, as a SWAT team tried to take him into custody near Maple Falls, according to authorities in Whatcom County.

Luis Fernandez, 36, and a 38-year-old woman were suspects in a shooting on North Red River Road that left a Ferndale man, 34, in critical condition around 4 a.m. Saturday, according to police.

Whatcom County sheriff's deputies believed the pair went to a property about 33 miles away, off Kendall Road west of Maple Falls. The sheriff's office sent a SWAT team and a crisis negotiation team to the property Sunday evening.

During the process of taking Fernandez and (the woman) into custody shots were fired, Fernandez was struck and died of his injuries at the scene," according to a news release from Bellingham police. "No one else was injured during this incident, including law enforcement officers."

Lummi Nation police reported that the wanted person died "after an altercation with deputies.

Whatcom County's Law Enforcement Multi Agency Team, known as LEMART, was investigating the police shooting, led by the Bellingham Police Department. It was not clear how many deputies opened fire or if any were placed on leave. A spokesperson for Bellingham police did not immediately respond to follow-up questions.

Officers from the Lynden and Ferndale police departments were involved in the SWAT operation.

The woman was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for investigation of two counts of attempted homicide, robbery and residential burglary. Those charges were being investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department. The FBI was also assisting in the case.

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