STATE LINE, Idaho — Interstate 90 near the Idaho-Washington state line was shut down Monday night after a man allegedly fired dozens of gunshots from the freeway median. Wyatt Armstrong, 23, appeared in court Tuesday, facing multiple charges, including two felonies and driving under the influence.
Idaho State Police say Armstrong parked his pickup truck in the middle of the interstate around 8 p.m. and began firing randomly, ultimately discharging 40 to 41 rounds. Prosecutors say at least two vehicles were struck, including his own.
“He fired a total of 40 to 41 rounds, striking at least one other vehicle and his own,” said prosecutor Andrew Simister during Armstrong’s initial court appearance.
Danielle Archuleta, who works near the scene, described the chaos. “We came out to check it out and you could hear the cops yelling for someone to surrender, dogs barking, [and] him yelling back,” she said, adding that the incident prompted her to consider locking her workplace. Archuleta captured a brief video of the scene, which showed law enforcement officers shutting down the interstate.
Court documents reveal Armstrong was intoxicated at the time, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.13. He acknowledged his lack of prior criminal history in court, saying, “This is my first time I’ve ever been in trouble other than a speeding ticket.”
Prosecutors initially requested bond be set at $150,000, but the judge deemed the allegations serious enough to increase it to $500,000. Armstrong remains in custody.
Despite the volume of gunfire, Idaho State Police confirmed no one was injured. Archuleta reflected on the unusual nature of the night. “No, it was just a crazy event. Like, for us being a slow and quiet night, it was probably an eventful night for us.”
This marks the latest development in an incident that disrupted traffic and raised concerns about safety along the busy interstate. Armstrong’s next court date has not yet been announced.