Jordan Cernich, 32, of Ferndale, shown here with his newborn daughter. Cernich was shot and killed early Friday morning after stepping between his girlfriend and her armed ex-husband. He was 32. (Photos courtesy of the Cernich family)
FERNDALE, Wash. — Ferndale police have identified the man killed in Friday morning’s shooting on Ferndale Terrace as 32-year-old Jordan Cernich and say the suspect, 48-year-old Michael Daniels, Jr., violated a no-contact order before the deadly confrontation unfolded inside the home.
According to a news release from FPD, Daniels went to his ex-wife’s residence on Ferndale Terrace around 3 a.m. Friday, May 8, in violation of a no-contact order. He threatened her with a handgun.
Cernich, who was dating Daniels’ ex-wife and living in the home, returned to find the two in an altercation. The two men fought, and from many accounts Cernich was shielding the children and their mother.
The Police report states that Cernich struck Daniels in the head with an unknown object before Daniels shot him several times.
First responders transported Cernich to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Juveniles Were in the Home
Two juveniles had been sleeping at the residence when the incident unfolded. One of them woke up and confronted Daniels before Daniels threw the child off.
Arrest on the Lummi Reservation
The arrest that followed began not as a directed manhunt, but from a suspicious person call.
At approximately 5:52 a.m., officers with the Lummi Nation Police Department responded to a report in the 4700 block of Sucia Drive in Sandy Point. Surveillance footage from a nearby resident identified the individual as Daniels.
Units from the LNPD, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies, a Bellingham Police Department K-9 unit and a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter surrounded the area. Officers found Daniels hiding in a trailer behind a residence and took him into custody without incident. Authorities then transported him to the Ferndale Police Department.
LNPD’s new K-9 also found what investigators believe was the weapon used in the shooting during a search of the area.
According to the department’s news release, Ferndale Police later searched Daniels’ residence on the Lummi Reservation. Detectives continue to investigate the case.
He did not have to come back, yet he willingly rushed back into danger to protect others. He returned to shield the now utterly devastated woman, the children with her.”
Paul Jaynes
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Please include Michael Daniels Jr’s full name instead of just “Michael Daniels”. He has a son and a grandson with the same name (obviously different surnames) and are getting backlash while they had nothing to do with this case.
Domestic Violence is real. It runs through families not just with husband and wife all the way through to kiddos. , they are victimized more than anyone whole families every person involved. It can happen and police officers and nurses deal with this every day. They have no resolve hands tied . . It’s up to the families to resolve the issues,change LAAS ….. but we have so much FAS running around the globe now let’s say America so that equals sociopath psychopath, shooting people, and only the nurses and first responders know about it. mental institutions and drag rehab need to go across the country and we can put Donald Trump‘s name all across the front of them.
My sincere deepest condolences to the lady who had to suffer through this, and so close to Mother’s Day. My heart is sad for you and the children who had to witness this horrific situation. I can’t even imagine the deep pain and grief you have been cast into by this situation. I will keep y’all in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏