Blaine man arrested on suspicion of murder

This article was originally published on October 5 and updated on October 11 with new information that appeared in the print issue of the newspaper. 

A Blaine man was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder on October 4.

Wayne Harold Mahar Sr., 76, was arrested around 4 p.m. October 4 after Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies and Blaine Police Department (BPD) officers responded to calls of a shooting at 4612 East Street #12 in the Maple Leaf Mobile Home Park. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Mahar claimed his neighbor was threatening and harassing him but Mahar was unable to give specifics to detectives.

The victim, identified by WCSO as Vincent Reames, 67, of Blaine, was pronounced dead on the scene after deputies attempted CPR, but were unsuccessful. 

Mahar fired a shotgun from his porch at Reames, who was standing on his own property, according to court records.

Another neighbor called 911 after hearing the shotgun blast and saw Mahar “standing on his front porch holding a gun,” a WCSO release stated. “She noticed the victim lying face down on the ground in front of his residence. She asked Mr. Mahar if he had shot Reames. He replied ‘Yeah.’”

According to WCSO public information officer Deb Slater, sheriff deputies had responded to at least four separate neighborhood disputes between Mahar and Reames since November 2021. None of the four previous disputes resulted in criminal activity or arrests, Slater said. 

The day prior, Mahar had reportedly told his other neighbor he was upset at the landlord for increasing rent, and said he threatened to shoot the landlord’s girlfriend. He also said he was going to shoot and kill Reames because Reames was harassing him. The neighbor said she had never seen Reames threaten or harass the Mahars.

Following the shooting, Mahar admitted in an interview with detectives that he had wanted to kill Reames and claimed Reames “deserved to be dead.” Mahar didn’t provide information on threats or harassment he received from Reames. 

“He went into his home, grabbed his empty shotgun, went in his bedroom to get a shotgun shell, and loaded it,” court documents described the incident. “[Mahar] stepped onto his porch and with intent purposefully shot Vincent Reames in the chest from his porch at approximately 30 feet.”

Mahar’s wife, Sandra, told detectives that Reames was “crazy” and had been a nuisance to the couple for years, according to court records. Mahar told his wife that he shot Reames in self-defense, claiming Reames had come onto their property threatening to kill Mahar the day prior to the shooting.

Mahar admitted to having one shot of alcohol prior to the incident. Four hours after his arrest, court records show he registered a blood alcohol level of .189 percent. The legal limit in Washington is .08 percent.

Mahar was booked into Whatcom County Jail later that afternoon without incident, and is currently being held in lieu of $2 million bail, which was set during his court appearance on October 5.

Mahar’s arraignment is set for October 13. Court records stated if Mahar is released from custody, he will not be allowed to possess firearms or consume any intoxicants.