Man accused of shooting 2 Whatcom County deputies facing 11 charges, fired weapon near kids

Suspect accused of shooting 2 Whatcom County deputies pleads not guilty

His defense also asked that the suspect should be able to keep his guns

MAPLE FALLS, Wash. - Court documents detail the moments leading up to the shooting of two Whatcom County deputies, and the suspect is facing additional charges as more information comes to light.

Investigators say deputies arrived at a neighborhood on Green Valley Drive in Maple Falls on Feb. 10, responding to shots that were fired during a dispute between neighbors.

According to court documents, 60-year-old suspect Joel Young pointed a loaded gun at his neighbor because he was angry that his neighbor was burning a fire in their backyard. Court documents say Young was intoxicated.

After yelling at his neighbor, he fired a round from the shotgun near a residential cul-de-sac, according to court documents. He then allegedly fired shots at his next-door neighbor and a woman two doors down, who were both outside. The woman's children were playing outside. None were injured.

Young allegedly threatened to kill the woman when her husband told her to call the cops, according to court documents.

When two deputies responded, Young allegedly shot both of them in the head when they were in the neighbor's front yard. A neighbor shot back, providing cover so the deputies could get out of the line of fire.

Young has been charged with:

2 counts of first-degree attempted murder
6 counts of reckless endangerment
First-degree assault while armed with a firearm
Second-degree assault while armed with a firearm
Felony harassment

He has pleaded not guilty.

There are GoFundMe pages posted for both Jason Thompson and Ryan Rathbun, the deputies injured in the shooting.

'Unknown civilian' fired back at suspect to protect police officers from further injury

A bystander fired back at a suspect who police say shot two Whatcom County deputies in the head after a dispute between neighbors in Maple Falls, Washington.

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