3 Shot, 1 Stabbed In Fight At Lynden Fair

Police took a 15-year-old male suspect into custody after three people were shot and a fourth stabbed at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden Saturday night, Lynden Police Department Chief Jack Foster said.

The victims ranged in age from 18 to 23. All four were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Foster said. He did not provide information on their conditions.

Police said the shooting took place around 10 p.m. near the food court.

Joey Banta was just feet away from the shooting when a fight broke out between two groups of people.

"I was thinking, 'Uh oh, we are in trouble here,'" he said. "This was the farthest place from a war zone, and this was a war zone last night; people falling down, getting shot -- wow."

Police said they suspect the fight was gang related.

"I mean, how many kids were running around here?" Banta said. "They could have been shot."

When officers arrived, they found two men and a woman with apparent gunshot wounds. A third man had apparently been stabbed. Police found a handgun at the scene.

"People were running around and someone was yelling that someone's got a gun," Joe Wisniewski said.

Wisniewsi said he and another man tried to chase down the suspected shooter, but he got away from them.

"He ran like a gazelle; he was gone," Wisniewski said.

Police later took the 15-year-old into custody on the fairgrounds. He was booked into juvenile detention on one count of attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault. His bail was set at $500,000, Foster said.

Fair manager Jim Baron said this was the first time a shooting had happened at the fair. He said security measures were in place.

"It's real unfortunate, but crime is part of our community," Baron said. "What can you do? In spite of all the preparation, this kind of thing happens."

Saturday was the last day of the annual fair. It was scheduled to close at 11 p.m.

"I really wish it wouldn't have happened," Banta said. "I think we really need help from our government to make sure this doesn't happen at our fairgrounds."