Lummi Nation police officer-involved shooting suspect in custody, local agencies share updates on the investigation

A Lummi Nation Police officer was shot and hospitalized early Monday morning by a suspect who fled the scene. According to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, identified as Javier Pena Flores, shot the officer multiple times after driving into a ditch on N Red River Road shortly before 1 a. m. He was apprehended in Ferndale later that afternoon, with no reported incident during his capture. Sheriff Donnell Tanksley condemned the attack as unprovoked and stated that violence against law enforcement endangers public safety.

The injured officer, 37, underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition. The Lummi Indian Business Council closed its office temporarily while searching for the suspect. Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire expressed gratitude for the swift response of local law enforcement agencies. Nearly two dozen agencies, including the FBI, assisted in the search for the suspect.