Early yesterday morning, a shocking incident disrupted the tranquility of Whidbey Island as a delivery driver became the victim of a shooting and robbery. The Island County Sheriff's Office reported that the assailant engaged with the driver near State Route 20 and Cornet Bay Road, close to Deception Pass State Park, around 6 a.m., resulting in the driver being shot before the thief made off in the stolen truck, as detailed by KING 5 News.
Despite his injury, the victim contacted authorities and was subsequently taken to a hospital nearby. He aided law enforcement by providing a basic description of his assailant. As deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers converged on the scene, another 911 call came in, describing an abandoned delivery truck on Monkey Hill Road, engine running, door ajar, but with no driver.
Further complicating the suspect’s escape, another individual reported witnessing a man who matched the shooter's description steal a bicycle and shed clothes while making his getaway. This crossover of criminal acts culminated in the arrest of 23-year-old Adam Belanger. KOMO News reports that he was found on Imperial Lane and taken into custody without further incident.
Belanger's arrest wasn't his final stop, as he required evaluation at Whidbey Health Hospital before booking at Island County Jail. Now facing potential charges for first-degree robbery and first-degree assault, the ramifications of his alleged actions are just beginning to unfold.
