Authorities seek tips on homicide victim found in Semiahmoo Park

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is narrowing in on a person of interest related to the homicide victim found in Semiahmoo Park last week. An individual was spotted on surveillance footage driving the victim’s van to a north Bellingham gas station, according to an April 12 WCSO media release.

The individual purchased items at the AM/PM gas station on Airport and Bennett drives on April 7, the day the man’s body was found, WCSO states. The person appears to be wearing all black boots, pants and a jacket with a grey beanie and blue face mask in surveillance photos WCSO provided.

In the April 12 media release, WCSO identified the homicide victim found in Semiahmoo Park last Wednesday as Thomas Flood, a 67-year-old from South Whidbey Island.

The victim was shot multiple times and the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide.

The WSCO and Blaine Police Department (BPD) are seeking information from the public on the homicide.

A white 1994 Ford Econoline van, believed to be the victim’s, was discovered in Fairhaven early Thursday morning, a day after the man’s body was found, according to chief WSCO deputy Kevin Hester and the press release. The license plate number was not given because it is considered personal information, Hester said.

WCSO is seeking information on sightings of the van in Whatcom County between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, the day the man's body was discovered. Hester said the van was left around 4 p.m. in the spot where it was later found. 

“Detectives are actively working this investigation around the clock in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties and any information, no matter how small you might think it is, could be the tip needed to break this investigation wide open,” Hester said in a statement.

WCSO and BPD are asking anyone who was in the vicinity of 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway and saw anything unusual between 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. the morning of April 7 to contact the WCSO major crimes tip line at 360/778-6663 or email BPD at pio@cityofblaine.com.

Local authorities began investigating after a body was found on Semiahmoo Spit Wednesday afternoon. Hester had said there is no believed threat to the public.

BPD officers responded to a report of an apparent dead body in Semiahmoo Park around 1:30 p.m. April 7, according to a BPD press release. Blaine police and WCSO are jointly investigating the murder.

This article will be updated as more information is released.