Bellingham Man Is Held In Wife's Killing

BELLINGHAM - A history of domestic problems that police had known about since last year apparently led to yesterday's fatal shooting at Whatcom Community College, police said.

Krystal D. Way, 25, of Everson, Whatcom County, was shot several times at about 1 p.m. outside a classroom building, police said. She died at the scene.

Whatcom Community College President Harold Heiner was among bystanders who overpowered the victim's estranged husband after the shooting as he attempted to flee on a motorcycle.

"We were trying to decide what to do, when I saw this construction worker flying through the air," Heiner said. "He attacked from the side and knocked him and the motorcycle over. . . . (The suspect) wouldn't let go of the gun. Five of us got on top of him, grabbed various parts of him and held him down until the police arrived."

Mark S. Way, 37, of Bellingham, was taken to the Whatcom County Jail and held on investigation of homicide, said Bellingham Police Sgt. Tim Lintz.

The Ways had a history of domestic problems that police first learned of in November 1994, Lintz said. It was unknown what prompted yesterday's incident.

The couple, who have two children, had been talking for about 15 minutes in the parking lot near Krystal Way's vehicle when she started running and calling for help, police said. Mark Way then allegedly used a 9mm semi-automatic weapon to shoot her.

Heiner said a number of witnesses, including nearby construction workers, saw the man who fired the shots.

"He was emotionless," Heiner said of the suspect. "He walked away from the killing. He only ran when we started chasing him."

No one else at the 4,000-student college was hurt, but many students and staff were angry, shocked or crying, Heiner said.

Several meetings for students and staff who needed to talk were held yesterday, and another was scheduled for today.

"This is the most peaceful place on Earth. We don't even have graffiti on our walls," Heiner said. "It's just a tragedy. Now we have to deal with the emotions and the loss of life and security that people are feeling at the moment."