Man accused of using unusual gun to fire shot at Richland park and threaten girlfriend
A 21-year-old convicted felon has been arrested for threatening his 18-year-old girlfriend with the same gun he allegedly fired at a Richland skate park during another confrontation.
Eli J. R. Hillstrom allegedly pointed the gun a man at the skate park at 1185 Carondelet Drive on Oct. 24 and then fired a shot into the air, the Richland Police Department said in a Facebook post.
About a week later, police said he used what’s been described as a unique gun with a drum cartridge to threaten the woman he was dating.
So far, he is only charged in connection with the Nov. 7 incident in the parking lot of the Richland Motel 6.
Hillstrom is charged with second-degree domestic violence assault and illegally having a gun. He was released from jail after posting a $25,000 bond.
Hillstrom has seven prior felony convictions, including third-degree assault, first-degree theft and second-degree burglary. Those convictions mean he is not allowed to have a gun.
It’s unclear what sparked the threat at the skate park but police said Hillstrom fired the gun and then drove away in a 2000s Toyota Camry before officers arrived.
A 9mm shell was found at the park, and traffic cameras spotted the suspect vehicle leaving the area, police said.
Domestic assault
Hillstrom was arrested Nov. 7 after police were called to investigate a domestic violence incident at the Richland Motel 6 on Nov. 7.
He and a 17-year-old girlfriend were reportedly attacking an 18-year-old women about 6:45 a.m. Court documents say Hillstrom was dating the 18-year-old as well.
Security video showed Hillstrom chasing the 18-year-old out of a second-floor room, putting her in a chokehold and tackling her, said court documents. She struggled on the ground for a brief period before she stopped moving. Hillstrom then got up and kicked her in the head.
Investigators say she then got up and ran toward him and they began fighting again. And the 17-year-old joined in.
The 17-year-old then left before police arrived.
The 18-year-old told police that Hillstrom also pointed a gun at her twice in the days before the fight in the parking lot, Richland police said.
The 17-year-old later told police she hadn’t seen a gun but eventually turning over a gun matching the one used in the skate park shooting.
Hillstrom denied the attack, saying the 18-year-old tried to push him off the balcony.
While Richland police said the 17-year-old was arrested, court records show she has not been charged.