AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — The man accused of shooting and killing a man in Airway Heights was reportedly confronted by a group of men, including the victim, for flashing a weapon at a group of children. That heated confrontation ultimately led to the deadly shooting, according to court documents.
Police arrested Devine Bullard overnight Sunday; he's accused of shooting and killing a man at a mobile home park on South Campbell Street.
According to a search warrant, Bullard admitted to investigators he fired several shots after one of the men pepper sprayed him. In an affidavit filed Tuesday, several witnesses told police Bullard grabbed the butt of a gun in his waistband before he was pepper sprayed.
Several witnesses told police they went to Bullard's home Sunday night after a group of children reported a man had flashed a gun at them. The man, later identified as Bullard, allegedly told the kids to "send your dad or uncle over here," and threatened to harm the adults if they did.
Bullard later told police the kids called him a racial slur.
After hearing about the argument, five men went to Bullard's home and confronted him, documents show. Two of the men told police Bullard had a gun in his waistband. According to the affidavit, two of the men saw Bullard "reach down and take hold of the handgun," at which point the man said he became scared, pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed Bullard.
Documents state the men heard three gunshots after Bullard was pepper sprayed, at which point all of them took off running. One of the men got into the passenger seat of the shooting victim's car, and the victim himself got into the driver's seat. The man said he yelled "Go!" and hit the victim's right shoulder, but the victim didn't move, according to documents.
The men told police they heard another round of gunshots ring out and reportedly saw Bullard firing the gun in their direction. Four of the men were able to get away, according to documents.
The men later learned the victim had been shot and died.
Bullard told police he felt threatened and started firing his gun in self-defense. He claimed he fell back when he was pepper sprayed and was punched and kicked by the other men, so he fired his gun, according to documents.
Bullard was arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree assault. According to a recently filed search warrant, police are also investigating the incident as murder.
During Bullard's first court appearance Tuesday, several family members spoke in his defense, saying he was protecting his family from the men on his porch.
Ultimately, Spokane County Judge Eugene Cruz only found probable cause for three of the five assault charges; however, he also found probable cause for one count of second-degree assault. Bullard's bond was set at $25,000 and he is set to appear in court on Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. for his arraignment.
WATCH RELATED: One person dead after Sunday night shooting in Airway Heights
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