Man steals assault rifle from Montana Walmart display case

Occurred September 7, 2014.


Schuyler Stewart Zwar has been arrested for entering a Billings, Montana, Walmart and going to the sporting goods area where, after asking to see some guns for sale, threatened an employee with a knife, then later returned and smashed a display case, stealing a Bushmaster model M-16, .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle, then fleeing.

From an article:

Zwar is seen on store security video pushing a large trash can into the store then walking to the sporting goods area.

Documents state Zwar looked at firearms in a display case then asked an employee for assistance to open the case.

After the employee took five firearms out of the case at 12:22 p.m. Zwar grabbed the employee.

The clerk said Zwar held a knife to his throat and tried to cut him several times, documents state.

The clerk told authorities he was calmly able to get away and Zwar left the sporting goods area.

Zwar returned less than a minute later swinging a large yellow crow bar, documents state.

Zwar "smashed the glass out of the display case and removed one firearm," documents state.

Walmart staff determined the firearm was a Bushmaster model M-16, .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle.

Zwar left the store at 12:24 p.m. using the automotive entrance and pulling a large black trash can, documents state.

Witnesses told officers the man left in a white vehicle, similar to a Subaru, with Washington state plates. ....

"The vehicle then led troopers on a pursuit for approximately 20 miles," the document states. "The vehicle was ultimately stopped after using spike strips to disable the tires and the driver identified as Schuyler Stewart Zwar."

After Zwar was taken into custody for the traffic offenses, troopers recovered a receipt for a crowbar that was purchased at a hardware store in Gillette, Wyo. earlier that day.
 ...

A search warrant was served on the vehicle and the rifle from Walmart, three boxes of ammunition, and the crowbar were recovered.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Man commits suicide at Montana Walmart after buying shotgun there

Occurred October 2, 2013.

Scene of suicide at Billings Walmart

A man walked into a Walmart store in Billings, Montana, and left with a newly-purchased shotgun.

He then got into his car in the parking lot and committed suicide with the weapon.

From an article:

Billings Police say a man in his early 20s walked into the store around 11 AM Wednesday and bought a shot gun. They say he left the store, got into a vehicle parked in the fire lane and committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. 

Police continue to investigate what happened.

Another fatal shooting, by law enforcement officer against an escaped convict, had happened in June at a Billings Walmart as well (the same one?).

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Montana prison escapee shot to death by police in Walmart parking lot

Occurred July 5, 2013.

Onlookers overlooking the scene of the Billings Walmart shooting

(UPDATED - see below) 42-year-old Dean Randolph Jess broke out of Montana State Prison.  He was spotted in a stolen vehicle in a Billings, Montana, Walmart parking lot.  When police arrived, they blocked his exit from the parking lot.  This is when Jess pulled out a gun and fired on police.  Police fired back, hitting and killing Jess.

From an article, with video of the scene and interview with police.

A sheriff's deputy driving back from Laurel swung past the West End Wal-Mart and saw a green Jeep Rubicon leaving the parking lot. Linder said that officer and two others who quickly joined him positioned their vehicles to block the Rubicon. 

Linder arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and said he could see the man in the Rubicon holding a pistol in front of his chest. Linder said the deputies shouted at the man repeatedly to put the gun down and get out of the vehicle. 

At one point, Linder said, one deputy shouted "Don't do it!" 

"At that time, shots were fired," Linder said. 

Just one deputy fired multiple rounds from his Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun, striking Jess an unknown number of times, Linder said. Deputies then broke into the Jeep and pulled Jess from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Linder said the deputy, who was placed on leave pending an investigation of the shooting, evidently thought Jess was raising the gun in his direction. Linder said he was behind the deputy when the shooting happened and couldn't see where Jess's gun was at that point. 

"The deputy felt that his life was in danger," Linder said.  

King Avenue West was shut down for several hours during and after the standoff. 

Witnesses at the scene said at least six deputies surrounded the Jeep, and after several minutes of shouting at Jess to drop his gun they tried to smash out the Rubicon's windows with their batons, without success. 

Witnesses thought they heard four shots. 

“Everyone was pointing guns at the car and then I heard ‘Get out of the car. Get out of the car. Get out of the car,’" said one bystander who was stopped at the intersection right behind the sheriff’s vehicle that pulled Jess over. "But the guy didn’t move. Then they started breaking the glass and then pop, pop, pop, pop." 

Immediately after the shots were fired, Jess was pulled from the vehicle and set on the ground, where he was motionless. The hatchback of the Rubicon was opened to reveal camping equipment and what appeared to be fishing waders.  

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.


UPDATE (7/9/13):  The officer who shot Jess is identified as Lieutenant Shane Skillen.  See HERE for news video of the shooting and aftermath.

Update (4/16/14):  The officer who shot Jess, Lt. Skillen, has been cleared of wrongdoing during the inquest.  It's clear that Jess intended suicide-by-cop.  He was shot four times by Skillen before dying.