Gunman dies after standoff with Bellingham police

Gunman dies after standoff with Bellingham police

Police barricaded the area surrounding the standoff scene on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of The Bellingham Herald.)

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Story Published: Apr 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 6:59 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff

BELLINGHAM - A 24-year-old man who charged at police with a handgun is dead after a four-hour standoff that ended after officers fired at the man Friday night.

The man was identified as David Duncan Clark, 24, of Bellingham. A cause of death has not yet been determined. Police haven't said whether the man died from rounds that were fired by officers.

Police were called to Clark's home in the 2700 block of Humboldt Street at about 5:30 p.m. after reports that he and three other people were acting disorderly and throwing objects out the windows, Bellingham police Lt. Steve Felmley said.

Crime scene tape still surrounds the home where the standoff took place. (Photo courtesy of The Bellingham Herald.)
The three other people left the home without trouble when police arrived, but Clark came out on the front porch and displayed a weapon at officers. He then went back into the house, police said.

Bellingham police called in their SWAT team, evacuated the immediate neighborhood and blocked off streets in a four-block area.

Officers went around the back side of the house and ordered Clark to come out of the house. When Clark appeared at the back door brandishing the handgun, officers commanded him to drop the weapon, Felmley said.

At some point, Clark charged at police with the gun. After attempting to disarm the man by shooting at him with immobilizing beanbags, two officers discharged their firearms at him. Clark then retreated into the house.

SWAT team officers were unable to verbally contact Clark by telephone and voice command. The SWAT team then fired several canisters of tear gas into the house, but there was no response from the man.

Officers broke the door down at around 9:30 p.m. and found the man dead inside. No other people were found inside the home.

Two officers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave pending internal review and review by the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

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