On the night of October 28, 2022, a Halloween party in Bellingham, Washington, turned tragic with the death of 21-year-old Xyrone March-Walker. The male victim was at a gathering at a residence on East Myrtle Street when an altercation led to his fatal shooting just before midnight. Witnesses and first responders attempted to save him after he was shot in the chest, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
He was a father to a six-year-old daughter.
The incident stemmed from a confrontation between March-Walker and another partygoer, identified as 22-year-old Brian A. Pantoja. Reports indicate the two had a previous dispute a week prior to the party. On the night of the shooting, they were involved in another altercation. Following this, Pantoja allegedly shot March-Walker in the chest at point-blank range on the front porch of the house. His sister was standing next to him when it happened. After the shooting, Pantoja fled the scene with his friends.
Law enforcement initiated a search for Pantoja. He was linked to a white Dodge Charger that had been involved in a hit-and-run collision earlier that evening. Police located the vehicle in a parking lot, and with the assistance of K-9 units, they tracked Pantoja to a nearby apartment. He was apprehended without incident as he tried to leave the residence.
Brian A. Pantoja was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail. He faces charges of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, as he has a prior criminal history that prohibited him from legally owning a gun. His bail was set at $5 million. The investigation into the death of Xyrone March-Walker remains ongoing, with detectives continuing to gather evidence and witness testimonies from those who were present at the party.
