Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports on March 30, 2024, at approximately 6:30 p.m., deputies responded to the areas of Waterloo and Lacomb, east of Lebanon, for several reports of someone firing a handgun from a silver-colored sedan. 

Deputies responded and located bullet casings in the 39000 block of Lacomb Drive, where a witness gave a description of the vehicle and identified a white male in his 20’s as the suspect. Witnesses described the behavior from the suspect as shooting the firearm in the air or at the ground. 

While deputies were investigating the shootings they learned a silver-colored vehicle was reported to have crashed in the ditch on Brewster Road. A good Samaritan stopped to check on the occupants and one of the occupants requested the incident go unreported to police. This prompted the citizen to report the suspicious behavior and the vehicle left the scene.

Deputies responded to the area of the crash and found a silver-colored sedan with heavy damage on Highway 226 with a male hanging out the passenger window. They stopped the vehicle and could see the occupants attempting to hide something in the vehicle. Deputies contacted two intoxicated adults, Austin Hickman, 24, of Albany and Tyson Hanson, 20, of Albany in the front seats. A third male juvenile was in the back. 

Deputies wrote a search warrant for the vehicle and seized a Glock 9mm handgun, 9mm ammunition, firearm accessories and alcohol. Deputies obtained multiple witness statements and evidence which lead to the arrest of Hickman relating to the shootings. 

Hickman was transported to the Linn County Jail where he was lodged on charges of Unlawful Use of a Firearm, Menacing, Disorderly Conduct II, DUII, Reckless Driving and Providing Alcoholic Liquor to a Person Under 21.