3 charged in connection with Soap Lake shooting

SOAP LAKE — Police said a Soap Lake man could have retreated to a nearby business instead of firing shots at a man Thursday evening following a dispute about a bad debt outside of a Soap Lake gas station.

Facing charges in Grant County Superior Court in connection with the shooting are Logan S. Halliday, 30, of Soap Lake, for second-degree murder (intentional), and Michael A. France, 51, of Hartline, and Bernard A. Brill, 56, of Coulee City, both of whom are charged with second-degree assault (deadly weapon).

The charges relate to an alleged drug-related debt owed by Halliday. French and Brill had reportedly gone to the Gas-N-Go on Division Street South, where Halliday worked, searching for him several times before the shooting occurred about 9:45 p.m. Halliday arrived for work about 9:40 p.m. and he was allegedly confronted by Brill and France in the parking lot. The three men were involved in an argument for several minutes. France hit Halliday in the back of the head with a baseball bat, which prompted Halliday to brandish a weapon.

Brill returned to a car and French returned to a motorcycle and Halliday held the two men, along with Siobana L. France, 40, of Almira, at gunpoint for 30 seconds.

“There was no threat present at this time as the men retreated to their cars,” wrote Soap Lake Police Department Chief Ryan Cox.

Brill reportedly tried to leave the area and started heading to state Route 28 through the parking lot, traveling in the opposite direction of Halliday. Brill drove for about 10-20 feet before Halliday fired three rounds into the back window of his vehicle.

“At no time from the initial assault was there another threat posed to Halliday by the two men. According to the video, he has sufficient distance from the men, and a clear exit if needed. Halliday had the opportunity to retreat inside the business and secure the doors, but chose not to,” Cox wrote.

“Also the injuries sustained to Halliday appeared to be non-life threatening, and no disfigurement,” according to medical staff.

No one was struck by the fired bullets and there were no other reported injuring during the incident.

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