Hoyt Webb: Homeless Self-Defense Encounter

Not long ago, I recorded a podcast with Don West and Steve Moses about a man named Hoyt Webb who entered a homeless encampment while recording video and ended up in a fatal confrontation. Hoyt Webb’s case is a textbook example of what not to do as a responsible armed citizen. His actions repeatedly violated key self-defense principles, leading to legal consequences. Rather than using his firearm as a last resort, he put himself in a position where he would feel justified in using it. The key takeaway: just because you can do something does not mean you should. Avoiding unnecessary confrontations is the best form of self-defense.

Hoyt Webb, a self-proclaimed journalist from Idaho, traveled to Spokane, Washington, to film a homeless encampment for his YouTube channel. Armed with press credentials from an independent website, he live-streamed the area while making derogatory comments about the homeless population. His actions quickly drew the attention of individuals at the encampment, who became agitated and asked him to leave.

At some point, Webb spotted someone with a knife. Rather than leaving the area for his safety, he returned to his vehicle—not to drive away, but to retrieve his firearm. With his gun in hand, he re-engaged the crowd, proclaiming, “I’m constitutionally protected!” and repeatedly stating, “I feel threatened.”

The situation escalated as more individuals began approaching him, though no clear evidence of an imminent physical attack was recorded. Webb ultimately fired a shot, striking one of the homeless individuals. Prior to this, he had also fired a warning shot—an action legally questionable in most jurisdictions. Witnesses at the scene immediately challenged his claim of self-defense, with one individual saying, “That wasn’t self-defense, man, you’re going to jail.”

Following the incident, Webb was arrested. Investigations into his background revealed a pattern of provocative behavior, including past recorded confrontations with police. His home displayed a sign reading, “This house is guarded by shotgun three nights a week, you guess which three,” reinforcing an image of someone with an aggressive and confrontational mindset.

Lessons for Armed Defenders

The Goal of Self-Defense is to Break Contact (Lesson #1): It seems reasonably clear that the people in the homeless encampment weren’t trying to maliciously attack Webb. They simply objected to him being there, recording him. At any point during the confrontation, Webb could have safely returned to his vehicle and driven away. His goal was not to break contact; he wanted to engage.   

 

Don’t Leave a Place of Safety to Confront a Threat (Lesson #14): Webb’s decision to intentionally enter a known volatile situation—a homeless encampment—was a clear example of seeking out unnecessary confrontation. Rather than encountering trouble organically, he actively put himself in a position where conflict was highly likely.

 

Don’t Return to the Fight  (Lesson #16): Once Webb saw a knife and felt threatened, he had an opportunity to retreat and remove himself from danger. Instead, he went back to his car—not to leave, but to retrieve his firearm and then go back to the threat.

 

Don’t Get Emotionally Hijacked (Lesson #8): Rather than thinking logically and disengaging, Webb allowed himself to get emotionally involved. His confrontational stance and antagonistic remarks showed a lack of emotional control, which contributed to the escalation.

 

Don’t Provoke a Potential Aggressor (Lesson #11): Although he may have legally had the right to record in public, his behavior—shouting about his rights and directly confronting individuals—was provocative. Engaging in verbal altercations and cursing at people further increased tension.

 

Don’t Fire Warning Shots (Lesson #24): When Hoyt fired a warning shot, he legally used deadly force–even though no one was hurt or killed by that particular bullet. An unjustified warning shot is a serious crime, and as a deterrent, it may only embolden an attacker who thinks the defender is unwilling to shoot them. 

 

Don’t Say Foolish Things (Lesson #33): Webb’s repeated verbal declarations—“I’m constitutionally protected,” “I feel threatened”—and the confrontational nature of his statements contributed to a situation where he appeared to be actively seeking justification for violence. This, along with the sign at his home stating, “This house is guarded by shotgun three nights a week, you guess which three,” provides prosecutors with ammunition to paint him as reckless and aggressive.

 

Avoid the Fight (Lesson #36): If Webb had simply chosen not to engage with the homeless individuals in a provocative manner, he would have never found himself in a self-defense situation. The safest and most legally sound option is almost always to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

 

The contents of this article are for general educational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. The goal of Armed Defender’s Dilemma is to share lessons from high-profile self-defense cases to help armed defenders make better self-defense decisions. Shawn Vincent is a paid contributor for CCW Safe.