Editor’s note: This story includes profane and vulgar language and violent themes expressed by the suspects in the alleged murder plot. Read at your discretion.
Two teenage suspects charged with attempted first-degree murder in a failed Cheyenne murder plot discussed plans to shoot their intended victim ahead of time, according to a profanity-laced audio recording obtained by police.
“Imma kill him,” one of the suspects said in the recording detailed in a probable cause affidavit filed by the Cheyenne Police Department in Laramie County Circuit Court and made available Tuesday.
“Imma kill him,” he repeats.
A third suspect who isn’t heard in the recording,18-year-old Michael DeHerrera of Cheyenne, appeared in Laramie County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
DeHerrea, who is suspected of driving the other two — ages 16 and 17 — to a home at 100 S. Arp Ave. where they believed the victim was, has been charged with the lesser crime of possession of a weapon with the intent to commit a felony.
He remained in the Laramie County Detention Center on Tuesday following his Friday arrest.
Police also arrested the other two teens, who are not being identified because they are juveniles, on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder.
Laramie County District Attorney Sylvia Hackl declined to discuss whether those charges will be amended or if their cases will be transferred to adult court.
Broke Into Home
The arrests follow an investigation into a Dec. 7 incident in which suspects, armed with AR-style rifles, planned to kill someone at the home on South Arp Avenue, according to police.
Video surveillance obtained by police shows the suspects parked outside the home and then firing a rifle that struck a parked Kia.
Someone who lives at the house stated that they heard a loud bang and assumed the car had been vandalized without realizing it had been shot.
It was then moved down the street because of an ongoing dispute, according to a probable cause affidavit.
There was no explanation in the court documents about the nature of the conflict between the suspects and the person at the house.
After the shooting, the suspects left but returned shortly thereafter.
The two juveniles then allegedly forced their way into the home with the intent to kill someone inside, but that person was not there, states the affidavit.
“The male suspects attempted to kick the front door open, ran around to the back door, attempted to kick the back door open, then ran back to the front and successfully kicked the front door open,” the affidavit states, adding one of the suspects laughed after being pushed outside by someone inside the home.
The Recording
Before going to the home on South Arp Avenue, the suspects were at Lions Park in Cheyenne, where DeHerrera and one of the juveniles took pictures of themselves with rifles before getting into a Subaru, according to the affidavit.
A witness who was in the Subaru provided police with two audio recordings made immediately after the car shooting on South Arp Street. The affidavit gives a detailed transcript of recording that captured them saying, in part:
“Did you even hit it?” someone asks.
“Yeah, I shot right at the bitch,” one of the suspects replies. “Boom.”
“Let’s go back n***a and park around the street,” one suspect says.
“Yeah, let’s creep up, dead homie, drop us off at Lions Park,” another answers.
Then there’s the sound of a gun racking, the affidavit says.
“I shot right at that n***a's engine block, f*** that n***a, let’s go back,” the second suspect says.
“Give me this shit [referring to an AR-style firearm] … imma run in that f***ing house, fool. Gimmie this shit, n***a I’m covering my face before we shoot this n***a too,” the first suspect says.
Rounded Up
On Friday, the 17-year-old suspect was arrested at a residence on Cable Avenue, and the 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody following a high-risk traffic stop at the intersection of Fox Farm Road and Morrie Avenue, according to the affidavit.
That same day DeHerra, who was contacted at his job by officers, fled and was apprehended following a brief foot pursuit.
Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco praised the investigation and subsequent arrest of the suspects.
“This was a complex situation — through careful coordination and communication, our officers were able to safely and effectively complete the operation,” he said in a statement. "I’m very proud of the work demonstrated by our team.
"We want to send a clear message: the Cheyenne Police Department will use every resource available to prevent violent crime and to put dangerous criminals in jail.”
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
