Two people accused of attempted murder in drive-by shooting plead not guilty
Two people accused of using a ghost gun to shoot and severely injure a Bellingham man in late December as retaliation for a robbery have pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges.
Jesus Geovanny Monreal Bojorquez, 26, of Everson, was charged Dec. 29 in Whatcom County Superior Court with one count of attempted first-degree murder, drive-by shooting and alien in possession of a firearm without a license. The attempted murder charge includes a firearm enhancement that states that at the time of the crime, Monreal Bojorquez or an accomplice was armed with a firearm.
If convicted of the firearm enhancement, an automatic additional five years in prison is added to a defendant’s sentence. The additional five years is required to be served consecutively with any other prison time. Both the deadly weapon enhancement and the attempted murder charges are considered “most serious” or strike offenses in Washington state. If a person is convicted of three “most serious” offenses, they are automatically sentenced to life without parole, according to court records.
Jordan K Velthuizen, 25, of Everson, was also charged Dec. 29 with one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of drive-by shooting. Velthuizen’s attempted murder charge also includes the firearm enhancement.
Monreal Bojorquez and Velthuizen each pleaded not guilty to the charges at their arraignment hearings on Jan. 5.
Monreal Bojorquez is currently incarcerated in the downtown Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail, with no cash alternative. Velthuizen is currently incarcerated in the downtown jail as well, in lieu of $1 million bail with no cash alternative, court documents show.
Their jury trials have tentatively been scheduled for late February.
The victim — a 25-year-old Bellingham man — was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center on Dec. 28 for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was hit by two bullets. One of the bullets caused a grazing wound to the victim’s upper arm, while the other went through his right thigh and tore an artery.
An emergency room surgeon described the victim’s injuries as serious risk of “loss of life and limb.” He was expected to be in surgery for roughly 10-12 hours to repair the damaged artery, according to court records.
As of Tuesday, Jan. 9, the victim had been treated and released from St. Joseph, according to hospital spokesperson Anne Williams.
