Two Killed in Drive By Shooting on I-5 Near Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, WA:  Skagit 9-1-1 received a “shots fired” call at around 3:11 am from a resident in the 1400 block of South 6th street. The reporting party stated they heard 4 shots from what they thought was  a pistol.

Mount Vernon Officers went en route to check on the shots fired complaint.

While officers were en route, a person involved in the incident, called 9-1-1 around 3:17 am and reported that two people had been shot in a Black vehicle on Northbound I-5 near Milepost 226. The caller told dispatchers that one  person was not breathing. He then updated the information to both persons not breathing.   The reporting party was at or headed to Denny’s in Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon officers notified the State Patrol and both agencies went en route to assist in looking for the victim vehicle on I-5.

Mount Vernon Fire and EMS was dispatched and asked to stage in the area until the scene was secure.

Mount Vernon Officers found the victim vehicle on Northbound I-5 across from Blade Chevrolet around 3:20 am.  They reported two persons in the vehicle with obvious wounds.

A Mount Vernon officer with assistance from a Burlington Officer contacted the surviving  victim at Dennys.

Fire and EMS  Units requested an additional ambulance and for MSO1 to be notified while they were staging.

The fire and EMS Units entered the scene once Law Enforcement gave the all clear.

Shortly thereafter, they  cancelled the additional ambulances and fire units.

The surviving person stated it was a black or dark colored smaller pickup, 4 Door Model that had shot at them.  He also stated that the shooting happened near Exit 221.

What the authorities have released so far:

Trooper Mark Francis says that  three men were traveling Northbound on I-5 around 3 am this morning when someone in a dark colored truck shot and killed both vehicle occupants in the front seat.  A male in the back seat managed to get into the front seat and steer the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway.

It is unclear if he was injured or not, but he managed to get out of the car and make it to Denny’s.

Police have not released the names of those killed or a possible motive for the shooting. Friends of the victims posted their names and condolences  on our Facebook page. We have decided to not release that information.

There was a shooting on June 19th at Bellis Fair Mall that involved a black  sports car racing from the scene after the shooting. It is unknown if the two shootings are connected, but detectives are looking into the possibility. Click here for information on that shooting from The Bellingham Herald. 

This is an ongoing investigation and additional details will be released when they become available from Washington State Patrol  investigators.