Elijah Belmont Murder of Henry King (Washington State)

Reference TimelineLast updated FEB 22
SUMMARY

Elijah Belmont, 24, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on May 22, 2025, in Whatcom County Superior Court for the shooting and stabbing death of Henry King in Boulevard Park, Bellingham. As of May 22, 2025: Belmont pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a plea deal accepted by prosecutors due to concerns about proving premeditation and the untested validity of geofence warrants in Washington state. King's family expressed strong objections to the plea deal and sentence. Belmont, arrested on December 6, 2023, had initially been charged with first-degree murder after confessing to the killing, though his account contradicted forensic evidence.

Timeline

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May 2025 — 2 developments

  1. Elijah Belmont was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the shooting and stabbing death of Henry King.

    Elijah Belmont was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the shooting and stabbing death of Henry King. Prosecutors accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder due to concerns about proving premeditation and the untested validity of geofence warrants in Washington state courts. King's family expressed strong objections to the plea deal and the resulting sentence.

December 2024 — 1 developments

  1. Elijah Belmont, a 23-year-old from Marysville, was accused of murdering Henry King in Boulevard Park, Bellingham, in March 2023.

    Elijah Belmont, a 23-year-old from Marysville, was accused of murdering Henry King in Boulevard Park, Bellingham, in March 2023.

December 2023 — 5 developments

  1. Elijah Belmont, 22, was arrested and confessed to the murder of Henry King.

    Elijah Belmont, 22, was arrested and confessed to the murder of Henry King. Police recovered a 9mm pistol consistent with shell casings found at the scene, and cell phone data placed Belmont's phone in the area at the time of the incident. Belmont faces a first-degree murder charge.

  2. Details emerged from the police report, including Belmont's claim of self-defense, stating King came at him with a knife after Belmont's knife failed.

    Details emerged from the police report, including Belmont's claim of self-defense, stating King came at him with a knife after Belmont's knife failed. Belmont claimed he shot King twice in the stomach. However, forensic evidence contradicted this, suggesting King was shot while moving away and had additional wounds, including a stab wound in his lower back and shots to the thigh and neck. No knife belonging to King was found at the scene.

  3. Belmont told police he had been drinking and went to Boulevard Park, where he was startled by King.

    Belmont told police he had been drinking and went to Boulevard Park, where he was startled by King. He claimed King tried to punch him, and after a knife he pulled failed, King pulled his own knife. Belmont then stated he shot King multiple times when King continued to advance, and King subsequently jumped into the water. Belmont's account contradicted forensic evidence found at the scene.

  4. After a nine-month investigation, Elijah Belmont, 22, of Marysville, was arrested by police from Bel…

    After a nine-month investigation, Elijah Belmont, 22, of Marysville, was arrested by police from Bellingham and Marysville, along with Snohomish County sheriff's deputies, in King's killing.

  5. Whatcom County prosecutors charged Elijah Belmont with first-degree murder in connection with Henry King's death.

    Whatcom County prosecutors charged Elijah Belmont with first-degree murder in connection with Henry King's death.

April 2023 — 1 developments

  1. Detectives served a Google geofence warrant on the narrow area of the Boulevard boardwalk as part of their investigation.

    Detectives served a Google geofence warrant on the narrow area of the Boulevard boardwalk as part of their investigation.

March 2023 — 1 developments

  1. Shortly after King's body was discovered, detectives found blood and 9mm shell casings approximately…

    Shortly after King's body was discovered, detectives found blood and 9mm shell casings approximately 175 yards from the water, suggesting King was either shot or stabbed near a bench and moved towards the railing before entering the water.