Weapon Offense Update: Mount Vernon Police Investigating Shots Fired Call

Mount Vernon, WA – According to a press release from Lieutenant Mike Moore of the Mount Vernon Police Department (MVPD), an investigation is ongoing into the weapon offense that occurred in Mount Vernon this morning.

At approximately 9:35 AM today, Wednesday June 20th, 2018, Mount Vernon Police Officers were dispatched to a weapons offense in the area of Interstate 5 and Blackburn Road. The call was soon updated with a location north of the original call, at the South 2nd Street Viaduct.

The initial caller reported that as he passed under I-5, he saw someone with a long gun on the viaduct. A second reporting party heard what they believed to be a gunshot.

Multiple jurisdictions, including the Washington State Patrol and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the area to assist the MVPD. It was ultimately determined that there was not a suspect actively seeking victims. As a precautionary measure, WSP did close I-5 for approximately ten minutes until it was determined that there was no risk to commuters. The call was then investigated as a shots fired incident.

The Mount Vernon Police Department reports that there has been no evidence (physical or video) located to confirm these reports. This is an area of heavy vehicle traffic, however no other witnesses called in to report a subject with a gun. At this time, the MVPD has not received any reports of injuries or property damage.

There was a later report of multiple shots fired in the 200 Block of South 25th Street, which was later determined to be fireworks.

Anyone with information that may assist the police department in identifying and locating those involved is encouraged to call police dispatch at (360) 428-3211 or Mount Vernon Police Department at (360) 336-6271.