Accused Hazel Dell Walmart shooter charged

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) – The man accused of opening fire inside a Subway restaurant inside a Hazel Dell Walmart is facing charges.

Shaun Sprague appeared in Clark County court on Thursday where he was charged with three counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree arson.

On Wednesday, Clark County deputies say that Sprague walked into the Walmart along Highway 99 around 6:11 a.m., armed with a revolver. At 6:54 a.m., he was contacted by the Subway manager. The manager walked away and when behind the counter, according to court documents.

“At that time, Sprague points the revolver [at the manager],” court documents state.

Sprague lowered the gun, but then pointed it at the manager a second time. At that point, the manager fled.

As the manager ran away, Sprague turned to a group of pumpkins that had been set up inside the store and fired “multiple rounds inside the store.”

The shooting was all captured on video.

Detectives learned that Sprague wanted to buy a sandwich but was told the restaurant didn’t open until 7 a.m. The manager told investigators that he recalled hearing 6 initial shot followed by 2 more shots.

When law enforcement arrived, Sprague was taken into custody without incident. No one was hurt.

He told detectives that he had owned the gun for about 5 years, according to court documents.

“Sprague advised [detectives] he had been cold and wet when he went inside of the Walmart,” according to court documents. “He advised that he had planned on killing himself while there but changed his mind.”

While Sprague was sitting inside a jail holding cell, he told an investigator that he had used “speed” a couple days ago. He said, “none of this would have happened before I used that [redacted.]”

The arson charge that Sprague faces stems from a separate incident that occurred Tuesday night in the 3000 block of Northeast 75th. Investigators say that Sprague started a kitchen fire and then found the gas line to the home’s water heater disconnected. Records show that Sprague lived at the residence and his roommate was home and had to put the fire out with water.

Sprague is due back in court later this month.