Man Allegedly Killed Homeless Man As “Practice” Before Killing Ex-Wife

A man is being accused of murdering a homeless man as “practice” before killing his ex-wife.

According to investigators, Nathan Beal of Washington State shot 30-year-old Andrew Bull in the head on April 3rd, 2020. His body was located in an alley in Spokane. A little over four months later, on August 8th, Beal shot 32-year-old Mary Schaffer in the head. The two were previously married. According to police, she was found in a car in the Browne’s Addition neighborhood where she had been to pick up her children from Beal. He was charged with premeditated murder. Police traced shell casings from both shootings to a gun purchased by Beal and his girlfriend, though he has not yet been charged with Bull’s murder.

In court last week, prosecutor Dale Nagy alleged that a jail informant, Shane Phillipy, disclosed that Beal admitted to executing Bull because he was “curious” and that it was for “practice.” Nagy claims that Beal stalked a homeless encampment with his two children present months before the first murder. He made remarks at the time about wanting to kill homeless people.

Beal remains jailed on a $1 million bond as he awaits trial for Schaffer’s killing, which is scheduled for October 4th.