LONGMONT, Colo. — A Longmont man faces charges including attempted second-degree murder after he shot a 13-year-old who was among several people he spotted attempting to enter his truck, according to Longmont Police Services (LPS).
Around 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, officers with LPS responded to the 400 block of Kensington Street for a report of several males trying to break into vehicles.
Patrick Gallagher, 39, lives in that area, according to LPS, and came out of his home when he spotted several people trying to enter his truck. During a 911 call placed by Gallagher, he reported the males were shooting at his residence, an arrest affidavit says. A spokesperson for LPS said they're still investigating whether any of the males fired shots.
LPS said Gallagher told the males to get away from the truck and then fired a shotgun at the group. A 13-year-old male was struck and wounded, according to LPS.
Longmont Emergency Communications Center (LECC) said a white Cadillac was circling the area and associated with the males.
Officers observed a white Cadillac leaving the area and initiated a high-risk stop, according to LPS. Four males, including two adults and two juveniles, were removed from the vehicle. The 13-year-old who was shot was among the occupants, LPS said.
According to an affidavit for Gallagher's arrest, a responding officer noticed injuries on the teen's face that "included multiple round marks that had penetrated the skin."
The officer asked the teen what happened and he responded that he had been shot, the affidavit says. The teen went on to say, according to the affidavit, that he was out "tagging" and met up with some friends who wanted to break into cars.
He reported that they were trying door handles when a man came out and yelled to get away from his truck, the affidavit says. The teen said he turned to look and was hit with "bullets" and took off running, the affidavit says. He said as he ran, the man fired another round at him, the affidavit says.
The teen told police he then jumped a fence and found someone outside and asked to use a phone and called his brother to come pick him up, the affidavit says.
He was evaluated at the scene and a medium-sized penetrating wound to the left rib cage was located which "appeared to be consistent with the wad from a shotgun," the affidavit says.
His shirt also had specks on the chest and arm areas that were consistent with multiple balls from a birdshot type of ammunition, the affidavit says.
The officer also reported that he observed "lead like shrapnel" in parts of the teen's sweatshirt.
When interviewed at the hospital, the teen was able to point to an area on a map where he believed he had been shot, the affidavit says. He also said there was a black truck in the area that the teens were attempting to get into, according to the document.
Officers went to that area on Kensington Street and found the "wad" part of the shotgun, the affidavit says. They also located a black truck.
One responding officer had spoken with Gallagher earlier and spotted a shotgun in his shop, the affidavit says. They made contact with Gallagher who gave consent to retrieve the shotgun which was logged into evidence.
Gallagher was placed under arrest and taken to the Boulder County Jail. During a later search, the affidavit says, loaded shotgun shells were found in Gallagher's right jacket pocket.
Gallagher faces the following charges:
- Reckless endangerment
- Child abuse
- Menacing
- Disorderly conduct discharge of a firearm
- Attempted second-degree murder
- Second-degree assault
- Third-degree assault
Longmont Police said they're exploring the possibility of charges against the four males in the white Cadillac for their involvement in first-degree criminal trespass and graffiti.
The department said it's likely that one or more of the males were responsible for graffiti in the area of 700 Martin St. where a church sustained damage. The church located at 641 Martin St. is a designated landmark within the city of Longmont. The original structure was built in 1924 by what was known as the German Congregational Church and it was designated as a landmark in 2005.
Anyone who was a witness or who has additional information about the case should contact Officer Arvisais at 303-774-4300 extension 8887.
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