A Laramie County courtroom is hearing conflicting accounts of a deadly April altercation
The trial for Adrian Maggos, a Cheyenne man accused of attempted second-degree murder, began Tuesday in Laramie County District Court. The proceedings center on a shooting that took place on April 30, an incident that left Matthew Kerlee with a gunshot wound to the chest and sparked a chaotic scene involving multiple people, according to reporting from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
The legal battle pits a prosecution focused on a calculated, concealed attack against a defense that describes a spontaneous struggle triggered by outside harassment. As the jury begins to weigh the evidence, the outcome carries significant weight for the local community, as a conviction could see Maggos sentenced to anywhere from 20 years to life in prison.
The prosecution alleges a calculated shooting
Assistant District Attorney Steve McMannamen opened the case by framing the shooting not as an accident, but as a violent escalation of a simple argument. The prosecution contends that Maggos fired a shot at point-blank range into the left side of Kerlee’s chest, with the bullet exiting through his right side. McMannamen argued that there is no evidence Maggos acted out of fear for his own life during the confrontation.
A central component of the state’s argument involves the clothing Maggos was allegedly wearing at the time. Prosecutors claim he wore a black hooded sweatshirt that had a makeshift hole cut into the back. They allege this modification was intentionally designed to allow him to reach a gun in his waistband and fire it in a concealed manner through the fabric of the sweatshirt.
The prosecution’s narrative also highlights Maggos’ actions immediately following the discharge of the weapon. They stated that once Maggos realized 911 had been called, he fled the scene and disposed of the firearm. While the gun has not been recovered and therefore has not undergone testing, the state intends to use doorbell camera footage to support its timeline. Cheyenne Police Department Detective Sean Cigich provided testimony on Tuesday, presenting footage that captures the sounds of the altercation and the gunshots.
Defense attorney claims former girlfriend provoked the shooting
Stacy Kirven, representing Maggos, offered a starkly different interpretation of the morning’s events. Opening her statement with the quote, “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” Kirven argued that the violence was instigated by Maggos’ former girlfriend, Parres Mondragon. The defense alleges that in the 11 days leading up to the shooting, Mondragon sent a series of threatening and harassing text messages to Maggos, including threats to break into his residence.
According to the defense, Mondragon had allegedly identified Kerlee as someone who would assist her in a physical confrontation against Maggos. Kirven further argued that the shooting was not an intentional act of murder, but rather a gun that went off during a physical struggle between Maggos and Kerlee. The defense also noted that other individuals fled the scene, suggesting a chaotic environment rather than a premeditated execution.
Details of the April 30 incident
The timeline of the event, as established through police affidavits and courtroom stipulations, paints a picture of a high-tension confrontation that began around 4 a.m. at the intersection of Central and Third avenues. The following facts were established as part of the court’s initial stipulations:
- Matthew Kerlee sustained a single gunshot wound and remained hospitalized from April 30 until May 5.
- The blood found at the scene belonged to Kerlee.
- The shooting occurred within Laramie County.
- Maggos resided in the home near where the shooting took place.
The initial police response involved a complex scene. While Kerlee was being treated by officers and later transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, he reportedly identified “Adrian” as the person who shot him. During the investigation, officers located Mondragon sleeping in a window well and another individual, Hailey Scheschi, hiding under a car a few blocks away. Scheschi, according to the affidavit, fled the scene shortly after the 911 call because she was under the influence while on probation for a previous DUI charge.
The investigation also included interviews with Maggos’ grandfather, Joseph Mares, who confirmed Maggos owned a small semi-automatic handgun, and Brianna Parry, who stated the men had been fighting over Mondragon. Maggos eventually turned himself in to authorities at approximately 12:48 p.m. that same day, after an eight-hour search. While in custody, he allegedly clarified to an officer that he was “the guy I shot,” referring to Kerlee.
The trial is expected to continue for three to four days as both sides present further witnesses and evidence to determine whether the shooting was a calculated attempt on a life or a tragic accident born of a heated, provoked struggle.
