Armed man robs Spokane Valley Walmart

Spokane Valley sheriff’s deputies are investigating an armed robbery at Walmart early this morning. A man witnesses described as a black male in his early 20s entered the East Sprague Avenue Walmart around 4 a.m., used a hatched to break a glass case and steal electronics, said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory. When employees confronted the man, he brandished what appeared to be a handgun. He dropped the hatchet in the store before exiting the building and running southbound, Gregory said. He might have got into a vehicle and left, but he said its early in the investigation and they’re still piecing together what happened. Deputies are looking into whether the man was caught on surveillance video. The man was wearing a tan colored backpack, a black sweatshirt and grey or brown cargo-style pants. He either had the hood of the sweatshirt up or was wearing a black hat. It doesn’t appear anyone was injured in the robbery, Gregory said.