Shannon Webb, 47, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and drive-by shooting charges in connection with the incident in Spokane, Washington, and was sentenced to 39 months in prison
An Idaho man who broadcasted himself shooting a homeless individual in downtown Spokane, Washington, live on the internet has struck a plea deal that will see him behind bars for just over three years.
The victim’s brother, Eric Kessler, expressed his dissatisfaction with the sentence to local Fox and MyNetworkTV affiliate KAYU, stating, “I still don’t believe what he got was fair,”.
On June 7, near a 7-Eleven in a part of downtown Spokane that the mayor had declared a state of emergency due to the opioid crisis, the incident involving the shooter, Webb, occurred.
Webb, donning a “Trump 2024” cap and wielding a selfie stick while carrying a gun, was streaming about the “homeless epidemic” on his “Kootenai County Press” YouTube channel when he fired at Hatch. Although the original stream has been removed from his site, local ABC affiliate KXLY broadcasted snippets of it.
Hoyt Webb, who livestreamed himself shooting a homeless man, has been sentenced to three years in jail
According to Webb’s YouTube page, he is a recognized journalist and photographer with the Constitution First Amendment Press Association (CFAPA), which, as per its website, issues credentials at no cost to any American adult who agrees to their Journalist’s Pledge and Member Terms and Conditions.
The violent event unfolded after Webb alleged he spotted someone with a machete and retrieved his firearm from his car, as reported by KXLY.
In the livestream, Webb is heard saying, “It’d be a bad idea if they pull anything out on me ’cause I’m pro-Second Amendment,” a quote picked up by the Lewiston Tribune newspaper.
Webb was heard shouting at someone to drop a rock, as reported by local NBC affiliate KGW, citing court documents.
Part of Webb’s live stream
“Back the f- up! ” Webb can be heard repeatedly yelling. “He just attacked me. Y’all did! ” he also yelled, adding: “I’m constitutionally protected! “.
When Hatch was shot, he was holding an iced coffee in his hand, according to the outlet.
Hatch survived but lost a kidney and half his bowels and suffered damage to a coronary artery, his brother told local NBC affiliate KHQ.
Webb was arrested and later told police he felt his life was in danger, regretted being there and getting into an argument, Portland, Oregon, NBC affiliate KGW reported, citing court documents.
At Webb’s first court appearance, Spokane Superior Court Commissioner Eugene Cruz dressed the defendant down for antagonizing people experiencing homelessness, saying, “You went to this location for your own entertainment,” the Spokesman-Review reported.
The victim’s brother, Kessler, was shattered after watching the video.
“I heard that slide hammer cocked back,” he told local Fox and MyNetworkTV affiliate KAYU. “I stopped the video right there for a second, gained my senses, and then pressed play.”
He spoke of the defendant to KHQ, saying: “You’re evil. You went out seeking your 15 minutes of fame … Now you’re getting more than your 15 minutes of fame.”
