On March 12, 2023, the life of Henry Howard King, a 48-year-old White / Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in what was later determined to be a homicide. King, known affectionately as "Hank" by friends, was a familiar and friendly presence in Bellingham, Washington's Boulevard Park. Despite facing personal hardships that led to him being unhoused, he was known for his warm smile and engaging conversations, often seen selling sports cards and brightening the day of those who passed by.
The community he cultivated knew him as a kind and gentle soul, a giver, and a protector to many.
The grim discovery was made in the early hours of March 12, when King's body was found around 4 a.m. on the boardwalk between Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office a couple of days later. The news of his violent death sent a shockwave through the community that knew and cherished him.
For nine months, the investigation into King's murder continued, with the Bellingham Police Department working relentlessly to find the person responsible. A breakthrough came on December 6, 2023, with the arrest of 22-year-old Elijah J. Belmont of Marysville. Belmont was subsequently charged with premeditated first-degree murder. According to court records, Belmont confessed to shooting King following his arrest. The investigation revealed that King had been shot and stabbed.
Elijah Belmont eventually accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Prosecutors acknowledged that proving premeditation for a first-degree murder conviction would have been challenging at trial. Belmont claimed he had been drinking on the night of the incident and shot King in self-defense during a violent altercation, a statement that was contradicted by the physical evidence, including a stab wound in King's back. On May 22, 2025, Belmont was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the murder of Henry "Hank" King. King's family expressed their profound grief and feeling of betrayal over the reduced charge, stating it was not justice for their beloved Henry.
