SPOKANE, Wash. — A man accused of firing a gun in traffic near the Washington-Idaho state line had planned to kill himself the night he was arrested.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the Kootenai County District Court, Wyatt Armstrong parked a Ford F-250 in the center median on I-90 near Stateline around 8 p.m. Monday.
Motorists had called 9-1-1 to report someone, possibly with a rifle, was firing shots from that area.
Law enforcement with Post Falls Police, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police responded to the call.
Officers reported finding Armstrong shirtless and put him in handcuffs and inside a patrol car.
Officers said they found an “AR-style rifle” and pistol in the front seat of the pickup. They also saw fluid leaking from the front of the truck, and later learned a rifle round was shot into the radiator.
A corporal said he smelled alcohol on Armstrong’s breath, and his eyes were watery, glossy and bloodshot. He recalled Armstrong’s speech being slurred at times, and that Armstrong was distraught and emotional.
The corporal said Armstrong told him he had a rough day at work and was planning to end his life in Rosalia when his truck broke down on the freeway.
Troopers said they collected 41 total shell casings from bullets Armstrong had fired.
A breathalyzer test performed at the scene with Armstrong indicated samples of .131 and .128 BAC, according to the report.
Armstrong is charged with and being held on two felonies related to shooting a gun at an occupied car. His bail was set at $500,000. He will make his next court appearance within the next two weeks.
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