Spokane Valley suspect accused of shooting man in leg to ‘teach him a lesson’

A man suspected of shooting another man at a Spokane Valley window company early Tuesday told deputies he was trying to “teach him a lesson.”

Eric M. Hyman, 50, was arrested after 6:30 a.m., when deputies say he shot a worker at Cascade Windows at 10421 E. Montgomery Drive. According to a news release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Hyman admitted to shooting the man, saying he did it because the victim allegedly threatened him and the lives of his family.

The victim, who was shot in his lower leg and foot, was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Deputies say his injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening.

Jennifer McPherson, Cascade’s vice president of human resources, said in a statement the company’s “heartfelt sympathies are with the victim and the victim’s family.” She said no other employees were injured.

Witnesses told deputies they heard gunshots and saw Hyman getting into a vehicle in the business’s parking lot, then leaving westbound on Montgomery. Hyman was taken into custody by deputies and a Washington State Patrol trooper near Argonne Road.

Hyman told investigators he shot the man because he “wasn’t going to allow the victim to threaten or possibly harm his family,” and that he “wasn’t shooting to kill the victim, he was shooting to teach him a lesson.”

Deputies recovered two handguns when arresting Hyman. He’s facing a charge of first-degree assault.