A Meeteetse, Wyoming, man was able to escape a barrage of gunfire from his brother while at home last week by running outside and driving off in the shooter’s own truck, court documents say.
Now the alleged shooter faces seven felony charges.
Brian John Manderfeld, 68, of Evanston, is accused of driving five hours northeast to Meeteetse on July 16 and opening fire with a pistol first at one of his brothers, then at the other.
He was charged Friday with two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of felony robbery and one count of possessing a deadly weapon with unlawful intent. He’s in the Park County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
Manderfeld’s attorney, Park County Defender Supervisor Tim Blatt, said it is too early in the case to comment publicly on it.
Gunshots In The Dirt
An evidentiary affidavit filed in the case says Brian Manderfeld arrived at his brother Thomas’ home at 9 p.m. on July 16, and that Thomas was home when Brian entered the house.
While holding a handgun, Brian demanded money from Thomas and accused him of stealing it, the affidavit relates from Thomas’ later police interview.
Thomas left his home and started walking down an alley, with Brian following close behind. Then Thomas heard a gunshot and saw a puff of dirt burst upward behind him, the document says.
He reportedly heard three gunshots total.
The affidavit says Thomas was able to soothe Brian regarding the argument about money, and Brian left the area.
Thomas Manderfeld could not be reached for additional comment by publication time.
And The Next Brother
Thomas got another man to give him a ride to the home of his other brother, Scott Manderfeld.
But when Thomas arrived at Scott’s house, Thomas heard three to four more gunshots, the affidavit says.
Scott’s neighbor had heard the gunshots and went outside to confront Brian, ultimately disarming him, the document says.
The neighbor declined to comment to Cowboy State Daily, as did Scott Manderfeld.
Park County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Christopher Aldrete arrived on scene to find multiple bystanders worried that Scott was wounded or dead in his home. The deputy noticed two men walking out from the west side of the house and called out for them to show their hands, the document says.
The affidavit says the two men complied. One man, later identified as Scott’s neighbor, revealed a firearm on one hand as he raised both hands in the air. Like the bystanders, the neighbor was also concerned that Scott was shot inside the home.
The unarmed man was Brian, bystanders told Aldrete. The bystanders also confirmed that Brian had been doing the shooting, the affidavit says.
A law enforcement agent whom the affidavit does not identify handcuffed Brian.
Aldrete and a Cody Police Department sergeant searched the home for possibly injured people. The court document says Aldrete noticed blood-stained, shattered glass and no fewer than five spent pistol casings lying on the ground next to the door.
Brian was later found to have a cut on his forearm, says the affidavit.
Aldrete also noticed damage to the walls in the immediate area surrounding the rear entryway, reportedly.
While Aldrete and others scrutinized the home, Aldrete learned that Scott was outside, alive and uninjured.
How He Escaped
The affidavit circles back, relating Scott’s account of his escape.
He heard banging and yelling at his back door and saw his brother Brian, armed with a handgun, the document says.
Scott went to retrieve his cellphone to call 911, but Brian started shooting, allegedly.
So Scott rushed out the front door, found Brian’s truck parked out front, started it up and took off — then called 911, says the affidavit.
To The Hospital
Emergency response personnel escorted Brian to the hospital, where Brian confirmed he’d consumed alcohol and made a “brief statement” about past THC use, the document says.
The affidavit says Brian told Cody Police Department Officer Trevor Budd that he had been “betrayed” and that he hatched a plan back in Evanston to bring his guns to Meeteetseto get his brothers’ attention.
Brian said he thought he fired “a shot or two” at Thomas’s house, the document says.
When he arrived at Scott’s house, he found the doors locked so he shot the window, the affidavit relates. He didn’t know where his brother was when he shot the window.
Then the neighbor came over.
By Brian’s account, he gave the neighbor his gun, and the pair went to the front yard to meet police, the affidavit relates.
Brian was booked into the jail without incident and gave a “positive” breath-alcohol reading, though the document doesn’t say what breath-alcohol percentage he blew.
A Little About This Tally
Some of the charges against Manderfeld reflect the Wyoming Legislature’s reverence toward private home dwellings.
The two charges of aggravated burglary are punishable by between five and 25 years in prison and $50,000 in fines each. That charge is defined as breaking into a structure to commit a felony inside it. This case theorizes that Manderfeld broke into both brothers’ homes to assault them within.
The two counts of aggravated robbery are also punishable by between five and 25 years in prison, and $10,000 in fines each. The two counts of aggravated assault each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. And the charge of possessing a deadly weapon with unlawful intent is punishable by up to five years in prison and $1,000 in fines.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
