STATELINE, Idaho – A 23-year-old man is in Kootenai County Jail following a serious incident on Interstate 90. Wyatt Armstrong is being held on a $500,000 bond, more than three times the amount initially requested by the state.
Idaho State Patrol (ISP) officers encountered Armstrong shirtless in the median of the interstate, where his truck had broken down. Officers found a handgun and a rifle in his truck and arrested him on the scene.
According to investigators, Armstrong admitted to firing 42 rounds, hitting his own truck and a tractor-trailer traveling on I-90. He allegedly planned to travel to Rosalia to kill himself but his journey ended near the state line.
Armstrong was reportedly intoxicated at the time, failing field sobriety tests and registering a 0.13 on a breathalyzer test, nearly twice the legal limit.
During his court appearance, Armstrong appeared somber and asked the judge if he had to pay his bond all at once, stating, “This is the first time I’ve ever been in trouble for anything other than a speeding ticket.”
Judge Mayli Walsh emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, stating, “This is a very serious crime… alleged… putting many people at risk in the community.”
Witnesses described the frightening scene. Madison McLaughlin, who drove past the incident, recalled, “His body was behind the truck and then the gun was like propped up on the bed of the truck point it directly at the cars that were coming.”
Another witness, Athena Biggs, expressed her fear, saying, “My first thought was fear, like deep in your bones fear.”
Despite no one being hurt and Armstrong’s lack of prior criminal history, the judge set a high bond due to the potential risk to the community.
John Mork, who was nearby during the incident, said, “It was a little bit unnerving, I’m just glad nobody got hurt.”
The investigation revealed that at least 41 rounds were fired while traffic passed by, highlighting the potential danger of the situation. The court documents indicate Armstrong’s actions were influenced by a bad day at work.
