Authorities say a Cathlamet man wanted to spread religion in a Skamokawa tavern’s parking lot but ended up shooting a man in the stomach instead.

A Wahkiakum County Superior Court judge ordered last week that Jack Sebade, 73, undergo a mental health evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial for second-degree assault in the Oct. 24 shooting of 34-year-old Darren Hall of Longview.

Hall, who was shot in the stomach, underwent surgery at St. John Medical Center, then left the hospital against doctor’s orders later that morning, according to a Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office report.

Sebade told deputies he had been drinking at the tavern around 1 a.m. when he decided to give a religious pamphlet discussing a “plan of salvation” to a woman in the parking lot, the report said. Sebade said he went to his Volkswagen van and tucked the pamphlet as well as a .22 Magnum revolver into his pocket.

Shortly after he began talking to the woman, Sebade said, another woman angrily confronted him, putting her face near his. A man told him to get back into his van and leave, Sebade said.

Sebade took the gun out of his pocket and told the man that he is a “sovereign citizen,” according to the police report. He was struck on the side of his head and fell to the ground. Sebade said he was climbing back to his feet when he fired his weapon at the man.

Deputies said they found Sebade sitting in his van, still in the Duck Inn parking lot, with the engine running and the cocked revolver resting on the passenger seat. Sebade, who had an abrasion on the right side of his head and smelled strongly of alcohol, surrendered peacefully, the report said.

The victim, Hall, rode the 33 miles to St. John Medical Center in Longview with several female passengers, the report said. Hall told deputies he was sleeping in a car next to Sebade’s van when he heard a commotion involving his female friends. He said he confronted Sebade and Sebade shot him in the stomach.

Other witnesses said Hall was in the tavern drinking, not sleeping in the car, when the incident first erupted.

Wahkiakum County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raedyn Grasseth said it is unclear whether Sebade identifies with a particular religion. He is on probation until next year for driving under the influence, authorities said.

Sebade, who is free on $35,000 bail, is expected to appear in court again Dec. 21.

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