Chaos Erupts at a Missoula Store: Man Arrested for Robbery

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 10:37 a.m. on April 12, 2025, a Walmart Asset Protection Investigator called 911 to report an assault that had just occurred at the Walmart on Mullan Rd. The caller said two males had damaged things inside the store, ruined merchandise, assaulted an employee, and had been throwing stuff around. The males got into a truck, and the caller provided the license plate number. 

A Missoula Police Department officer located the vehicle near the intersection of 3rd and Reserve St. and pulled the vehicle over. The driver was identified as 24-year-old Ashonte Hoyt. The officer observed a passenger in the vehicle as well. Hoyt’s eyes were glossy and appeared heavy, and his speech was sloppy. According to court documents, Hoyt admitted to using marijuana but denied alcohol use. 

The officer asked Hoyt to exit the vehicle to conduct the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Hoyt scored 15 out of 18 clues of impairment. Hoyt was arrested and was transported to the jail, where he provided two breath samples into the Intoxilyzer, which resulted in a 0.175 BrAC. 

Another officer responded to Walmart and spoke with several employees. One employee saw Hoyt tuck something in his shorts. He later saw Hoyt lift his shirt up, take out cookies, and throw them down. The employee approached Hoyt and the other male and picked up the cookies.  

The employee left to get a supervisor and told the supervisor to contact Asset Protection. During this time, Hoyt grabbed the employee’s arm and then “unleashed an onslaught of punches.” The employee tried avoiding the punches but got hit by Hoyt’s closed fist in the face and head multiple times. Another employee attempted to step in, and Hoyt slapped her in the face.

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Hoyt and the other male started walking out of the store. As they were leaving, Hoyt was yelling and knocked over some plants. These items were later reported as damaged and/or destroyed and their total value is less than $1,500. 

Hoyt and the other male got in a truck and nearly hit a man in the parking lot as they were leaving. The male said that he had to jump backward to avoid being hit. An employee was in the parking lot and witnessed the truck almost hit the man. The employee said, “Honestly, I think [the vehicle] would’ve pinned him between the vehicle and [a] pole.” The employee said she hid behind a cement pole to avoid possibly being hit by the suspect vehicle. 

Hoyt is currently being charged with felony robbery, felony criminal endangerment, aggravated DUI, and criminal mischief.  

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.