Investigation of Boulevard Park homicide in March leads to Marysville man’s arrest

Nearly nine months after a Bellingham man was shot to death and found offshore near Taylor Dock, Bellingham police have arrested a person suspected of killing him.

Bellingham police arrested 22-year-old Elijah James Belmont, of Marysville, Wash., Wednesday, Dec. 6 on suspicion of first-degree murder for the March 12 shooting death of 48-year-old Henry Howard King.

Whatcom County Superior Court records show the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed formal charges against Belmont on Monday, Dec. 4. A warrant for his arrest was issued the same day.

The formal charging documents, and details regarding the investigation into Belmont’s arrest, have been temporarily sealed by the court.

Belmont is being charged with premeditated first-degree murder, including a firearm enhancement, the prosecutor’s office confirmed to The Bellingham Herald.

Belmont is expected to make a first appearance in court Thursday afternoon, Dec. 7.

Sealed records

The prosecutor’s office requested the court seal all documents Dec. 5 in Belmont’s case temporarily due to concerns regarding the ongoing law enforcement investigation and safety of cooperating witnesses, according to court records.

In an affidavit filed by Bellingham Police Department, Travis Hauri, lead detective in the case, said that if the charges filed against Belmont were made public it could threaten authorities’ ability to “successfully complete this investigation and erode law enforcement’s ability to protect the public.”

Hauri also wrote that there were concerns for the safety of cooperating witnesses, including some who have openly discussed fears for their safety, the court documents state.

Because of the concerns surrounding the ongoing law enforcement investigation, public safety and the safety of cooperating witnesses, the court issued an order Dec. 5 sealing all documents filed in Belmont’s court case until an arrest had been made.

“Weighed against the public interest in the open administration of justice, compelling circumstances warrant the temporary sealing ordered in this matter,” court documents state.

Well-known to community

Belmont is accused of shooting and killing King, of Bellingham, around 4 a.m. on March 12, according to previous reporting in The Herald.

King died on the boardwalk between Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park from multiple gunshot wounds. His death was ruled a homicide March 14 by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office.

King, who grew up in Bellingham, was a familiar face at Boulevard Park in the years prior to his death, where he was known to sell sports cards. He was known as Hank to those who were close to him.

King struggled with mental illness and was homeless at the time of his death. After his death, an impromptu memorial for King was set up on the bench where he often sat at Boulevard Park.

Bellingham police had asked for the public’s help multiple times throughout its investigation into King’s death.

Wednesday’s arrest of Belmont was made in Marysville by Bellingham police, with help from the Marysville Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and Everett Police Department, according to Megan Peters, a spokesperson for Bellingham police.

Peters said Bellingham police is continuing its investigation into King’s homicide, and public information is limited at this time.