$500K bail for accused I-90 shooter
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 10 months AGO
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | December 14, 2024 1:00 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — A man who allegedly fired more than 40 rounds at vehicles traveling along Interstate 90 near Post Falls on Monday night is in jail on $500,000 bail.
Wyatt J. Armstrong, 23, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle and attempting to discharge a firearm at an occupied vehicle, both felonies. He also faces charges of driving under the influence, disturbing the peace and exhibition or use of a deadly weapon, all misdemeanors.
Idaho State Police, Post Falls police and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office responded just before 8 p.m. Monday to reports of shots fired from a pickup truck parked in the median on I-90 near Milepost 0.
Witnesses told police that a man who was near the vehicle, later identified by police as Armstrong, was firing a rifle toward the interstate as vehicles were driving by.
One witness said he was driving westbound on I-90, behind a semi truck, when he heard a “popping noise.”
“That’s when I saw a man shooting at the semi truck as it passed him and then into the roadway ahead of us,” the witness said, according to court records. “I could see the shots skipping off the pavement.”
At the scene, police detained Armstrong, who was “extremely distraught and emotional,” according to court records. Armstrong allegedly told police he’d had “a rough day at work” and had planned to drive to Washington to end his life, but his vehicle broke down, causing him to stop in the median.
Armstrong said he fired 42 rounds in total, court records said. Police located 41 shell casings in all.
Police obtained security footage from the nearby Post Falls ER & Hospital “clearly showing (Armstrong) fire toward” a semi truck traveling along I-90, according to court records.
No one was injured, according to ISP.
In court Monday, prosecuting attorney Andrew Simister called Armstrong’s alleged actions “very scary and concerning.”
“This wasn’t a targeted attack,” Simister told the court. “It was firing into a crowd, basically.”
First District Judge Mayli Walsh ordered that Armstrong be held on $500,000 bail.
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