A man from Pennsylvania allegedly shot an Instacart driver who was making a delivery for the man's wife. Police arrested 43-year-old Nicholas Sabo for shooting 35-year-old Jerrie Wilchombe. The husband didn't realize Wilchombe was delivering groceries to his Newton Township home on January 18, so his first thought was to pull a gun on him.
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Husband Shoots Instacart Driver Mistaking Him For Intruder
Vanessa, Sabo's wife, ordered groceries for delivery through the Instacart app but didn't inform her husband. This is according to Paul Wolfe, South Abington Police Chief.
When Wilchombe arrived at the home, Vanessa reportedly warned her husband that she believed someone was attempting to break into their utility trailer. She noticed a movement alert from their outdoor security camera, not thinking it could've been the Instacart driver.
This caused Sabo to march out of the home with his gun, shooting Wilchombe with one bullet in both of his legs. The driver hobbled back to his vehicle that held his wife, Jessica Thomas, and their daughter, Olivia Thomas. Wilchombe then managed to drive far enough away to call 911 safely.
The police chief explained to McClatchy News how rushed the situation was. "(The husband) goes out, sees the individual and, no verbal confrontation no nothing, just shoots," said Wolfe.
Wilchombe arrived at Geisinger Community Medical Center and is now in stable condition after undergoing surgery. Meanwhile, the cops arrested Sabo and charged him with recklessly endangering another person according to Lackawanna County court records.
Sabo's wife was in a "panicked state" according to Times Tribune when officers arrived. Vanessa invited them into the home as police asked the couple where the firearm was. Sabo complied and showed them the Glock 19 he reportedly used on Wilchombe, the police confiscating it immediately.
Investigators proved that Vanessa placed the order and the Instacart driver was at the correct address, as per the Independent. Sabo will appear in a preliminary hearing on January 29 for this charge and the possible future charges he'll receive.
This hasn't been the only issue with Instacart. Angie Harmon, an American actress and model, sued an Instacart driver in May 2024 after he allegedly killed her dog. The driver, Christopher Anthoney Reid, arrived on the property and shot her family dog, Oliver.
