KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, SportsLocal Shootings One of Top Stories of 2011

Local Shootings One of Top Stories of 2011

It was a year of tragedy in southeast Wyoming. This past summer shootings in Wheatland and Cheyenne left a total of six dead and two more wounded.

On the night of July 7 at approximately 5:50 p.m., Wheatland police received a report of screaming and yelling going on at a residence after a large number of rounds had been fired.

"I heard this really bad screaming. I mean I've never heard anybody scream like that before. So I looked out my windows and I saw the mother over there next door and I saw that she was bleeding," said Jessica Kornder, a neighbor.

Suzette Conant had sustained gunshots wounds to her foot and arm. Police arrived on the scene within minutes.

"As they breached the front door they heard a male subject talking inside the residence and they retreated. Officers then began a dialog with the subject to surrender peacefully after about ten minutes and that subject was Everett Conant III," said Randy Chesser, Wheatland Chief of Police.

Once police were inside they found the fatally wounded bodies of Suzette Conant's three children, Everett, age 18, Charles, age 13 and Joseph age 11.

Everett Conant III also shot his brother, Nacuma Roland Conant, who was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Wheatland hospital.

Suzette Conant survived the shooting, but must move on without her three boys. Everett Conant III went through a mental evaluation and it was determined he is competent enough to stand trial in district court.

A month and a half later, on the night of August 23, Cheyenne Police received a call at 10:47 p.m. with the report of gunshots at 4414 Sullivan Street.

"What I heard at about 10:30 was I thought was a firecracker. My dog was outside and got kind of scared. Couple minutes later we heard "pop, pop, pop!" and so then we went in and shortly after that we heard sirens," said Linda Rooney, a neighbor.

Once police arrived they could hear a male and female talking, but didn't hear a disturbance and thought they had the wrong address.

Soon after, an officer heard a gun shot.

"We saw somebody in the upper story window, which we later found out was the kitchen and we just saw someone pacing back and forth, pacing back and forth and the police had guns drawn and were behind car doors and it was pretty scary," Rooney said.

Police were able to enter the house and arrest the homeowner, 32 year old Nathaniel Castellanos.

Castellanos is accused of killing 25 year old Megan McIntosh and 21 year old Corey Walker, both of Cheyenne.

23 year old Amber McGuire was also shot leaving her in critical condition. McGuire survived the shooting and her condition has continued to improve.

Castellanos pleaded not guilty in October to two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.

Natrona county District Attorney Michael Blonigan has until January 1 to decide whether or not the prosecution will seek the death penalty in this case.

The trial for Nathaniel Castellanos is set for March 20.