Submitted by Fox First at Ten on January 3rd
SPOKANE, Wash. - The man accused of a deadly New Years Eve shooting at a Hillyard grocery store which left one man dead and another in the hospital with serious injuries now faces first degree murder charges.
Shannon Lee Johnson, 33, shot and killed his cousin, David Lougin, as well as shot and seriously injured his cousin's friend, Jason Brown, inside Neighborhood Grocery at 3404 E. Euclid Avenue around 10:30 New Years Eve night. Various witness accounts state Johnson shot the two men after an argument although the exact reason is unclear. Various witness statements described the argument being about a woman, money, or drugs, according to newly released court documents.
In his first appearance in Spokane County Superior Court Wednesday, a judge ordered Johnson to be held on $1 million bond for charges of first degree murder and first degree assault. Those charges were amended from second degree murder.
Witnesses said Lougin and Brown were about to walk out of the grocery store when they were confronted by Johnson. One employee said Shannon began arguing with the two men over some money or drugs. That same employee heard Johnson say "I want my stuff". Brown, however, told police that the argument was over a woman.
One witness then said he saw Johnson pull out a semi automatic hand gun and fire about 10 rounds. According to court records, Lougin fell to the ground and then Johnson fired one or two more rounds at Lougin while he was on the ground. Brown was also shot two times in the back.
Johnson then raised the gun, fired several more shots into the store, and then high-tailed it out of the store in a Chevy SUV heading northbound, according to documents. He crashed the SUV on the 3500 block of E. Carlisle and took off on foot. A helicopter later spotted Johnson hiding under the Greene Street Bridge where he was arrested.
When investigators asked what he did during the night, Johnson replied, "I didn't do nothing" and then began crying.
Johnson is set to have an arraignment Jan. 15 at 9am.
KHQ
