The 21-year-old victim of a shooting late Friday night at a Halloween party on East Myrtle Street has been identified as Xyrone D. March-Walker of Ferndale.
Around 11:59 p.m. Friday, police responded to reports of gunfire on the 500 block of East Myrtle Street. Brian Pantoja, 22, allegedly shot March-Walker in the torso, then fled.
Police and medics attempted CPR, but March-Walker died at the scene, Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said in an email.
Police tracked Pantoja, who was believed to have also been involved in a hit-and-run earlier that night. K9s identified an apartment that BPD officers watched until Pantoja came out.
Pantoja was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was previously convicted of second-degree robbery and not permitted to have a firearm.
Pantoja is being held in Whatcom County Jail on $5 million appearance bond, Murphy said.
Cascadia Daily News will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
