Man pleads not guilty in shooting incident

A man allegedly involved in an early December shooting incident appeared in court Thursday to face charges.

Bo Hanger, 27, of Whitefish, pleaded not guilty to one count of accountability to robbery, a felony, and not guilty to a second count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, also a felony.

Hanger allegedly was involved in an attempted robbery that turned into a shoot-out. One man landed in the hospital and another faces charges of attempted deliberate homicide.

According to Hanger’s testimony, he was approached by Bryan Schloss, 26, of Kalispell, in the Great Northern Bar in Whitefish on Dec. 5. Schloss reportedly asked Hanger to participate in robbing an alleged drug dealer he knew to be in Kalispell. Hanger reportedly agreed and drove Schloss to Walgreens, where they picked up the alleged dealer, David Palumbo, 23, of Evans, Wash.

As Hanger drove his light-blue Honda CR-V along Springcreek Road, Schloss and Palumbo allegedly began arguing. Hanger pulled over around Four Mile Drive, at which point a gunfight reportedly broke out between Schloss and Palumbo around 2:30 p.m.

Palumbo allegedly shot Schloss four times, in the jaw and abdomen, with a .40-caliber handgun as Schloss allegedly fired back with a 9-mm pistol.

After shots were fired, Palumbo apparently fled and Hanger allegedly dropped Schloss off at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and drove away. Hanger was later arrested by Whitefish police.

Palumbo is in custody in Stevens County in Washington. He turned himself in Dec. 10 for violating his parole by leaving Washington. He is expected to be extradited to Flathead County soon. He has not reported any injuries.

Schloss has since been released from the hospital. He has yet to be charged.

Hanger has been released on his own recognizance and awaits trial on April 26.

Accountability to robbery carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine. Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence carries a maximum sentence of less than 10 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000.

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com