CHENEY, Wash. — An East Valley High School teacher, accused of shooting at his ex-wife in May, now faces more charges, including attempted murder.
Benjamin Hill, 41, was already facing an assault charge after Spokane Police arrested him for shooting at his ex-wife's car as she drove to work at Sacred Heart. That shooting happened May 18, 2023.
Court records show it wasn't the first time investigators believe Hill tried to shoot his ex.
Cheney Police say Hill was arrested in connection to a March 4 shooting at a Cheney Starbucks; he's now charged with attempted murder and assault in that case.
Court documents show a car was shot while waiting in the drive-thru. While no one was hurt, the bullet came dangerously close to hitting the driver in the head.
"A single bullet entered the rear passenger trunk window. Upon entry it skidded the interior roof and then continued to travel until it hit the front windshield and came to rest on the dashboard," a responding officer reported.
A bullet casing was found 180 feet away, though no nearby businesses caught the shooting on surveillance. The 9mm Luger casing was sent to the Washington State Patrol crime lab.
On June 8, the lab notified Cheney Police the casing matched a casing from a shooting at Division and 6th in Spokane -- the same shooting where Hill's ex wife's car was hit.
By that time, Hill had been arrested, charged, and was out on bond in that case.
With the forensic match on the bullet casings, investigators looked back at body camera video and interviews with witnesses at the Starbucks and made another connection.
Sitting inside the Starbucks at the time of the shooting was Hill's daughter and ex-wife.
Court records show, based on where the casing was found, "[she] would have been visible through the window. However, the shot went right (from the shooter's perspective) and went into [the victim's] vehicle."
The victim whose car was hit was random.
"Though the shot was fired at [ex-wife], the lack of marksmanship nearly cost [the victim] his life," an officer reported in court documents.
Spokane police investigating the shooting near Sacred Heart had recovered the gun used; Cheney Police expedited a test firing since Hill was currently free on bail and "poses a possible threat to [ex-wife]."
That test firing confirmed the gun used in the May 18 shooting was the same used in the March shooting at Starbucks.
Hill was arrested June 16. He's now being held on $1 million bond.
East Valley superintendent Brian Talbott tells KREM 2 Hill is currently on leave and has been since his May arrest. Per his teacher contract, Hill is being paid through the end of August despite being on leave. Talbott says Hill has not been on East Valley campus since he was originally arrested.
Hill's trial date is set for August 21 in both cases.
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