Hoyt Webb sentenced in Spokane live-streaming shooting | Spokane News

SPOKANE, Wash. – Hoyt Webb, the man accused of shooting Thomas Hatch during live streaming, pleaded guilty and now faces 39 months in prison.

Webb was live in downtown Spokane on June 7, claiming to be associated with the Kootenai County Press, when he shot Hatch. The incident left Hatch with life-threatening injuries, including the loss of a kidney, half of his intestines and damage to a coronary artery.

During the sentencing, Eric Kessler, the victim's brother, expressed his feelings. “I don't know what else to say. I can't even look at him. It is difficult.”

Court documents said Webb was walking in downtown Spokane near Division and Short, live-streaming on YouTube and harassing people when the shooting occurred. Webb said he acted in self-defense but pleaded guilty to the Class B second-degree assault charge.

Despite his plea, Webb maintained his self-defense claim, but Judge Dean Chuang sentenced him to just over three years in prison. Eric Kessler was unhappy with the verdict, remarking, “I still don't think what he got was fair.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Webb will serve 18 months of community custody and will be subject to a 10-year no contact order with the victim.