CHEYENNE – After two consecutive refusals, the suspect in a drive-by shooting appeared in court Friday, having his charges read to him and receiving a $250,000 cash bond.
Demetrius M. Coletti, 45, was arrested on Dec. 27 for attempted first-degree murder, which is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty, as well as eluding, which is punishable by up to six months in jail and/or $750, and duty to stop, punishable by a $200 fine, following a drive-by shooting incident.
Since his arrest, Coletti had been refusing to appear in circuit court, telling deputies that he didn’t feel well.
“He didn’t want to get out of bed when they told him he had court, and we’re not going to use force to drag him out of his cell,” Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on Thursday.
An initial court appearance for an inmate in custody isn’t worth using force, Kozak said.
Judge Sean Chambers set Coletti’s arraignment for Jan. 8 at 3:30 p.m.
The incident
Around 9:35 p.m. Dec. 27, Cheyenne Police officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired at a residence near the 1600 block of West Jefferson Road.
According to statements, Richard Martinez was sitting in his truck when Coletti drove by and allegedly fired at him. The round missed Martinez, and Coletti drove away.
Martinez told police that he was sitting in his truck when he heard a car pass his house. He stated that he “had a feeling” and ducked as shots were fired. Glass fell around him, and Martinez stayed in the car until he heard the truck drive away.
While no injuries were reported by Martinez, the round struck the truck, according to a CPD news release.
Coletti’s daughter said he called her at 12:33 p.m. that day saying he was sorry and wanted to tell her so before he did “this,” according to the affidavit. His daughter said he had mentioned purchasing a gun a few weeks prior but had not said from where.
Another woman who had been with Coletti earlier that day told officers that she had watched him arm himself with what he said was a pellet gun, though she held it and said it felt like a pistol, according to the booking sheet.
Witnesses described Coletti driving a light-colored Chevy Tahoe, which was relayed over the radio to a Laramie County Sheriff’s deputy, who recognized the vehicle near the intersection of College Drive and Walterscheid Boulevard.
Coletti sped away from law enforcement, despite being signaled to stop, and continued to drive recklessly as officers and deputies pursued him. During the high-speed chase, Coletti ran a red light and crashed into a car in the intersection of West Lincolnway and Central Avenue, near The Plains Hotel.
Coletti continued down Lincolnway until he was arrested west of town when a wheel fell off his Tahoe, causing it to stop. Officers arrested Coletti, and he was booked into the Laramie County Detention Facility, where he again called his daughter.
According to the affidavit, Coletti responded to his daughter accusing him of attempting to kill Martinez, saying he had done so because Martinez had a laser pointed at him.
Coletti was booked on charges of attempted first-degree murder, fleeing and eluding and duty to stop.
