JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — A 17-year-old was shot in the face Tuesday after he told police that he and his friend were looking for a place to take homecoming pictures.
Deputies were dispatched to the 23000 block of Pleasant Park Road, east of Conifer, at 4:15 p.m. after the homeowner called dispatch to report two trespassers on her property, according to release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO). She also called her boyfriend, who lives there with her, to report the trespassers.
"We found two cars along a public roadway, not on private property," said Jacki Kelley, JCSO public information officer. "There was an adult male who was standing outside his car and then there were two juvenile males. One of the juveniles had sustained facial injuries from gunfire coming through his windshield."
The teen who was shot told deputies that he and his friend drove to the property so see if they would be able to use it to take homecoming photos. The boys parked at the home's gate, jumped the fence and walked up the driveway to speak to the owner, the release says.
When no one appeared to be inside the home, the release says the teens told deputies that they walked around the property trying to locate the owner but they couldn't find anyone.
The two teens then returned to their car and began writing a note to the homeowner to ask permission to use the property to take photos, the boy reported.
"We know that that was the intention because we have the evidence," Kelley said. "There is nothing that appears to be malicious or criminal."
That is when the teen said 38-year-old Brent Metz pulled up next to them, blocked their car from leaving, exited his truck and fired one round through the windshield, hitting the 17-year-old in the face.
"It doesn’t make really good sense to us that what they did would constitute the reaction from the homeowner," Kelley said. "But it’s still an ongoing investigation."
According to an arrest affidavit, one of the teens said he heard Metz say, "Oh s***, my gun just went off."
The document says Metz tried to help the teen after he was shot, but the teen's friend pushed him away and asked Metz why he shot his friend.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they said they saw a teen bleeding heavily from his face while the other applied pressure to his friend's wounds with a shirt. Metz was standing with the two boys.
Metz was arrested and transported to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. He is facing possible charges of:
- First-degree assault
- Two counts of felony menacing
- Illegal discharge of a firearm
- Two counts of reckless endangerment
Metz is a council member for the town of Mountain View. The Mountain View town administrator said it is too early to know if Metz will be removed from his position. 9NEWS asked for further comment on Wednesday and the town administrator said, "The town does not have any comments or statements at this time."
9NEWS legal analyst Scott Robinson said a homeowner's rights are very limited in a situation like this.
"Colorado law is clear, you can’t shoot someone who is merely a trespasser outside of your home. Inside of your home we have the 'Make My Day law' under certain conditions," Robinson explained. "Outside of the home, there’s absolutely no basis to shoot someone even if they’re carting off your precious truck you can’t shoot someone for trespassing."
Robinson said if anyone else found themselves in this situation the best thing a homeowner can do is call the police.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Metz bonded out on Wednesday night. 9NEWS called a phone number associated with Metz's business, a gentleman answered and hung up once a reporter identified themselves.
The teen has serious injuries and is still in the hospital, according to the sheriff's office. Jeffco Public Schools said the teenage victim is not a student in their district. The investigation is ongoing and Metz's next court appearance is Sept. 17.