3 arrested in Soap Lake gas station shooting

SOAP LAKE — A Thursday night shooting outside of a Soap Lake gas station reportedly stemmed from a drug-related debt owed by one of the involved subjects, according to information released Friday by the Soap Lake Police Department. There was no reported injuries.

About 9:45 p.m. Soap Lake police received a report of shots fired at the Gas-N-Go on Division Street South. Soap Lake officers, along with deputies and Ephrata officers, quickly responded to the scene and detained three males, according to SLPD Chief Ryan Cox.

A vehicle was located at the scene as well that had been hit by three bullets and police learned two males, Michael A. France, 51, of Hartline, and Bernard A. Brill, 56, of Coulee City, had gone to the business several times earlier in the day looking for Logan S. Halliday, 30, of Soap Lake, who is an employee at the Gas-N-Go. When Halliday arrived for work at 9:40 p.m. he was reportedly confronted by Brill and France in the parking lot. Cox said the altercation “appeared” to be about a debt Halliday owed to one of the suspects.

France struck Halliday in the back of the head with a baseball bat, which prompted Halliday to brandish a gun, according to police. Brill and France returned to their vehicles and Halliday allegedly held Brill, France, and Siobana L. France, 40, of Almira, at gunpoint for 30 seconds. Brill entered his vehicle and started heading toward state Route 28 and Halliday allegedly fired three rounds into the back of the car. After firing the shots Halliday held France and Siobana at gunpoint until police arrived.

Almira and Brill were booked into the Grant County Jail for first-degree robbery. Halliday was medically cleared and booked into jail for second-degree attempted murder.

“This charge was determined since there was no longer a threat present to Halliday at the time of the discharge of the firearm,” Cox explained.

“This was an isolated event and there are no suspects at large. This incident appears to be over a debt owed over illegal narcotics. The city of Soap Lake is still a great community and should not be considered unsafe.”

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.