Shilo Englert, who has been in Whatcom County Jail for the past two years awaiting a murder trial, will appear before a judge this week to answer to new charges.
Englert, 35, was charged in Whatcom County Superior Court Feb. 1 with four felonies, including assault, after Bellingham police said Englert shot a man in the leg during a confrontation in August 2021, according to court records.
The incident happened six months before Englert was arrested in Bellingham as a suspect in the murder of Kasaundra “Kassy” Booker in the 22 North supportive-housing facility for homeless people.
Englert’s murder trial is tentatively set for April 29. Prior to that, at 10 a.m. Friday, March 1, Englert will appear before a Whatcom County judge to hear his new charges: first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and taking a motor vehicle without permission.
According to court documents, a resident of an apartment on Cottonwood Avenue in the Birchwood neighborhood saw Englert taking boxes from his patio around 4 a.m. on Aug. 23, 2021. After the man confronted Englert in the parking lot with a baseball bat, Englert shot the man in the leg, according to court records.
Englert then fled in a stolen vehicle with a $25 pull-up bar taken from the man’s patio, the documents said. The unlawful firearm charge stemmed from Englert’s history as a convicted felon.
Ryan Swinburnson, Englert’s assigned attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Bellingham police caught up to Englert 12 days after Booker, 31, was found dead on Feb. 8, 2022, in the stairwell of 22 North at 1022 N. State St.
A warrant for Englert’s arrest was issued after officers reviewed video surveillance from the 22 North building cameras. Englert was identified as the last person with Booker before her body was found.
Englert has remained in jail since Feb. 20, 2022, with bail set at $1 million.
Ralph Schwartz is a former CDN local government reporter; send tips and information to newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
