Several Armed Citizens Save Two Officers Shot in the Head During Gunfight

Two officers were shot while responding to a shots fired call after a man got into an argument with his neighbor over burning leaves and fired his shotgun in the air. But the two officers are home and recovering thanks to what police say were several armed citizens that came to the assistance of the officers.

On Feb. 10, 2022, around 3 PM, a Whatcom County, WA man who had been drinking alcohol became upset that his neighbor was burning leaves as the smoke got into his home. The neighbor subsequently told him to “F#@& Off!” His response was to get a shotgun and discharge a round into the air.

Neighbors called police to report the shooting, and when they arrived on the scene, they announced themselves outside the intoxicated man’s home. He came out with the shotgun, which they ordered him to drop. That’s when he fired on the deputies, hitting one in the head, who then fell to the ground.

The second deputy advanced on the suspect while firing back to protect the first wounded deputy. But he was also hit. That’s when one of the several armed citizens came to their aid by returning fire.

“That’s when I stepped around the corner, and I drop an entire magazine at this guy,” he said.

The armed citizen and the second wounded police officer were then able to get the first to his garage to take cover until backup arrived.

Both officers were transported to the hospital. They have since been released and are recovering from home.

Friends and family have set up the following ways to support them through this difficult time.
Deputy Rathbun: https://tinyurl.com/bdfhx9z2
Deputy Thompson: https://tinyurl.com/2p94tsxw

The Support Officers Of Whatcom County is also taking donations and ask that the receiving deputy is noted in the comment section at this link:
https://www.supportofficer.org/give.html

The suspect surrendered after SWAT, and other police arrived on the scene and surrounded the house. He was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder in the first degree and is being held on a $5 million bond.

It is unclear how the other armed citizens came into play in this incident, but the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office mentioned this in a statement on Facebook:

Second, we are extraordinarily blessed that several armed citizens came to the deputies assistance at the critical moments when they were most vulnerable. I have contacted all three of the good Samaritans and expressed appreciation on behalf of myself and all members of law enforcement and their families. There will be a more formal recognition of these humble citizen heroes once more details of their actions can be released.