Shooting suspect turns himself in

Bail set at $1 million; Victim recovering from three shots

COUNTY – The 21-year-old Acme man suspected in the shooting of another man in Bellingham turned himself into police on Thursday morning, Dec. 31. Formal charges were filed against him on Dec. 30.

Noah Wilhelm had been on the run for 10 days, following the Dec. 21 incident stemming from a domestic issue in which Wilhelm allegedly shot a man three times in the 3200 block of Racine Street in Bellingham.

Following a hearing on Jan. 1, Wilhelm is being held at Whatcom County Jail on $1 million bail. Wilhelm has been charged with first and second degree assault, and is being represented by Bellingham lawyer Jeff Lustick.

Authorities say Wilhelm, who has no criminal history, is the only suspect in the shooting. The victim, indentified as Kyle Brown, graduated from Mount Baker High School in 2007, and has been living in Bellingham. Wilhelm allegedly went to Brown’s Racine Street apartment, where Wilhelm’s ex- girlfriend, Samantha Muhlbach, was visiting Brown. Reports state Wilhelm asked to speak with Brown, and the men went to the sidewalk to talk. During the court hearing, County Prosecutor Elizabeth Gallery stated Wilhelm pointed a .357 revolver at Brown and told him twice to get into the trunk of his car. Brown

refused both times and backed away. Wilhelm, who allegedly pointed the weapon at Muhlbach as well, then fired three shots at Brown and fled the scene.

Brown arrived at St. Joseph Hospital shortly after the incident. Meanwhile, Wilhelm drove to the Acme area and was being pursued by Bellingham Police and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies, as well as U.S. Customs Border and Protection (CBP), which initially located Wilhelm’s vehicle in the Acme area. His car was spotted by a CBP helicopter, but later discovered ditched along Wild Rose Lane. He fled on foot and was not located.

Authorities believe Wilhelm then allegedly took an Acme resident’s truck, which was reported stolen shortly after Wilhelm fled. Police say the truck, a 1963 Willys Jeep half-ton pickup truck with wood side paneling painted white (license plate number B20274D), has not been located.

Police declined to discuss other details of the case due to the investigation. Gallery stated during the hearing

it is believed Wilhelm fled as far as Nevada, where ATM records show money was withdrawn.

Brown, who was shot in the throat and shoulders, is recovering from his injuries and was released from the hospital last week. Speaking with the Foothills Gazette via e- mail on Dec. 30, Brown said he was doing great in his recovery, and wanted to thank friends, family and the community for their support. Brown’s family lives in the Maple Falls area.

“I just want to thank the town of Maple Falls for gathering together in this season of giving and creating great food for my family which was in the hospital with me all week,” he said. “I definitely believe there’s a God and thank him for saving my life.”

Brown said the first shot was straight to his throat and stopped directly in front of a main artery. The other two bullets landed in his back shoulders. The bullets remain in his body.

Brown said as soon as he was shot “there was a gut feeling that I would not die. It was almost like I knew I was gonna live to tell this story.”

Several sources could not be reached as of press time. Additional details will be published in the next Foothills Gazette.