CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A Goshen County prosecutor has charged a Colorado man with attempted murder in a shooting last month that authorities say left a Hawk Springs man paralyzed.
Goshen County Attorney Patrick Korell on Wednesday filed a complaint against William Eugene Schlager Jr., 51, of Fort Collins, Colorado. Circuit Judge Randal R. Arp has issued a warrant for Schlager’s arrest based on Korell’s complaint.
The complaint charges Schlager shot Timothy Toedter, of Hawk Springs, on April 26. In addition to attempted first-degree murder, Schlager faces charges of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, attempted robbery, aggravated assault and battery and being a previously convicted felon in possession of a gun.
The robbery charge against Schlager alleges he tried to rob Toedter while threatening him with a deadly weapon.
According to the Goshen County Attorney’s Office, Schlager is being held in the county detention center and faces an initial court appearance Friday afternoon. No attorney has filed notice of representing him, Goshen County court personnel said Thursday.
According to a statement from the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to an establishment called The Emporium in Hawk Springs just after 8 p.m. on April 26. When they arrived, they found medics of the Hawk Springs Fire Department treating Toedter for a gunshot wound.
Goshen County Sheriff Donald J. Murphy said Thursday that Toedter was shot with a rifle and left paralyzed. Murphy said Toedter is being treated at a Denver hospital.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be. That’s something that the doctors will deal with, and I haven’t spoken with any of the doctors,” Murphy said. “He was shot in the back.”
Murphy said the shooting was a shock to Hawk Springs residents. He said Schlager was born and raised in the area but has been living in Colorado recently.
Following the shooting, Schlager left Hawk Springs and drove toward Cheyenne on U.S. Highway 85, authorities said.
A release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol states troopers laid out spike strips on the highway about 17 miles north of Cheyenne that damaged the tires on Schlager’s vehicle when he drove over them.
The release states Schlager fired an unknown number of shots after he got out of his vehicle. “Troopers then engaged the suspect, who was wounded in an exchange of gunfire,” the release states.
A Highway Patrol statement the day after the Schlager’s arrest stated he was flown to the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center for treatment of his wounds.
Laramie County District Attorney Scott Homar received reports Wednesday on the shooting exchange between Schlager and the troopers in Laramie County, his office said Thursday. No charges have been filed yet in Laramie County.
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