Cheyenne Man Fatally Shoots ‘Heavily Intoxicated’ Neighbor After Intervening in Domestic Disturbance

CHEYENNE, WY — A Cheyenne man intervened in a domestic disturbance between a man and a woman in the apartment below him on Saturday night, resulting in the shooting and death of the man involved in the altercation, according to police reports.

The Cheyenne Police Department issued a statement on Monday regarding the incident, which occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Oxford Drive.

According to local media, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found a 38-year-old man with apparent gunshot wounds. Despite administering first aid while waiting for medical personnel, the man was declared dead at the scene.

According to the police statement, the upstairs neighbor heard a loud physical and verbal disturbance between the man and a woman in the apartment below. Armed with a handgun, he went downstairs to intervene. A disturbance occurred in the stairwell between the two apartments, which resulted in the fatal shooting of the man. Details about the specific events leading up to the shooting in the stairwell have not been disclosed.

But Montoya was “heavily intoxicated” with alcohol, and charged the neighbor in a “rapid, aggressive manner” in close proximity in the stairwell, Hackl said. via Cowboy State Daily

Other individuals were present during the incident, but no additional injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.

This incident highlights the complexities and risks involved when intervening in domestic disturbances. While the upstairs neighbor’s intentions were likely to help, the situation escalated tragically. It underscores the importance of carefully considering the potential consequences of personal intervention and the value of calling law enforcement to handle potentially violent situations.