Bellingham Man Sentenced for Mistaken Uber Shooting

Ricky Rodriguez pleaded guilty to assault after firing at an Uber in response to a prior drive-by incident.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A 19-year-old Bellingham man named Ricky Rodriguez has been sentenced to over a year in prison for mistakenly shooting at an Uber driver's car last summer. Rodriguez opened fire on the Uber after someone in a different vehicle had previously shot and injured one of Rodriguez's acquaintances in a drive-by incident.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of retaliatory violence and the potential for tragic consequences when people take the law into their own hands. It also raises questions about how law enforcement responds to drive-by shootings and whether more could be done to prevent such incidents from escalating.

The details

According to court documents, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to 2nd degree assault with a deadly weapon last Thursday, February 19th. He was sentenced to just over a year in prison with credit for the 8 months he has already spent in the Whatcom County Jail. Rodriguez was part of a group walking in downtown Bellingham in June 2025 when someone in a car fired a gun at them, hitting one of the group members in the foot. Rodriguez later responded by firing more than 10 shots at a car that looked similar to the suspect vehicle, which turned out to be an uninvolved Uber. The Uber driver was not hurt, but the bullets hit the car's roof and hood.

  • In June 2025, someone in a car fired a gun at Rodriguez and his group, hitting one of them in the foot.
  • On February 19, 2026, Rodriguez was sentenced to over a year in prison for the mistaken Uber shooting.

The players

Ricky Rodriguez

A 19-year-old Bellingham man who pleaded guilty to 2nd degree assault with a deadly weapon for mistakenly shooting at an Uber driver's car.

Whatcom County Jail

The jail where Rodriguez spent the 8 months prior to his sentencing.

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What’s next

Bellingham Police have not yet responded to requests for comment on their investigation into the original drive-by shooter that prompted Rodriguez's retaliation.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for better community-based solutions to address gun violence and retaliation, rather than individuals taking matters into their own hands in ways that endanger innocent bystanders.