BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A man was arrested and charged with suspicion of attempted murder, drive-by shooting and other crimes after an incident in the parking lot of a Bellingham business on Thursday, December 28th.
According to emergency services radio transmissions at the time, What-Comm 911 call receivers began receiving several reports of a drive-by shooting in the parking lot of a retail business in the 4400 block of Meridian Street about 3:30pm. Bellingham Police Department (BPD) personnel responded.
BPD told Whatcom News via email that witnesses reported seeing a white Jeep SUV drive up to a green Hyundai Santa Fe and the Jeep driver fired multiple shots at a man getting into the Hyundai.
Detailed vehicle descriptions were broadcast to law enforcement and shortly after a Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputy reported to have pulled over 1 of the vehicles near the intersection of Meridian Street and W Axton Road.
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BPD said the deputy detained the male driver and female passenger. Before the vehicle pulled over, a handgun was seen being thrown out the passenger-side window by the passenger. Deputies located the handgun and secured it until crime scene investigators responded.
BPD told Whatcom News the injured man had driven to a nearby establishment where he received life-saving assistance from a social worker that was there. Another individual then took the victim to the hospital in a privately owned vehicle.
Nearly an hour after the incident, the male victim, identified by BPD as a 25-year-old, was reported to have been located by BPD officers outside the PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center emergency department with a gunshot wound to his leg.
According to Whatcom County Jail records, BPD officers booked the driver of the Jeep, identified as Jesus Geovanny Monreal-Bohorquez, age 26, into the jail and charged him with suspicion of the following crimes.
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- alien in possession of a firearm
- 1st-degree attempted murder
- drive-by shooting
Also arrested and booked was the female passenger of the Jeep, identified as Jordan Kay Velthuizen, age 25, who was also charged with suspicion of the following crimes.
- 1st-degree attempted murder
- drive-by shooting
As of Friday, December 29th, both remained in custody pending a preliminary hearing in Whatcom County Superior Court when bail may be set.
The injured man is receiving treatment for his injuries sustained during the shooting according to the BPD.
This story was updated 11:30am with information provided by the Bellingham Police Department.
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