CASPER — A 21-year-old Casper man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to his alleged part in a confrontation that led up to a fatal shooting at south-side apartment last year.
Jadin Zander Tripplett is accused of being with an armed friend on May 11, 2025, when he pointed a gun at a man in the apartment — who was also his cousin —and pulling the trigger.
Triplett told Casper police the gun didn’t fire because he had forgotten to take his safety off.
His accomplice, Anicio Bernard, 20, did fire his weapon as did the man in the apartment, leaving Bernard dead and the cousin wounded.
In Natrona County District Court on Tuesday standing beside his defense attorney Dylan Rosalez, Judge Kerri Johnson read Triplett the aggravated assault and battery charge he faces for the May 11, 2025, incident.
He told her he understood the charge.
Johnson asked him how he would plead.
“Not guilty, your honor,” Triplett said.
The judge said she would order the case be put on the court docket for trial.
Rosalez asked that Triplett’s $100,000 cash or surety bond be continued.
Triplett pleaded not guilty in a separate file on July 9 to a charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and battery related to the same May 11 incident.
That charge and the aggravated assault and battery charge were separated in Casper Circuit Court due to a legal issue during Triplett’s first preliminary hearing on both charges.
The Natrona County District Attorney’s Office has asked to joint the cases again.
The Background
Charges against Triplett stem from an incident in the early evening of May 11, 2025, when court records state he and Bernard had gone to his cousin’s apartment to retrieve a weapon allegedly stolen from Triplett.
Both men put on masks before entering the apartment and they were accompanied by Triplett’s girlfriend, Neevah Marie Neeman.
A police affidavit states that at least four people were in the apartment when the pair entered the door and Bernard yelled out, “Give me all your shit, give me all your shit.”
Neeman told police that while walking into the apartment building, Bernard had chambered a round in his pistol.
The affidavit states Bernard had gotten the weapon from Triplett a few weeks earlier. Neeman also said Triplett had a handgun as well.
Once inside, Triplett’s cousin pulled out the weapon he had and the shooting began, according to the affidavit.
A handful of witnesses interviewed by police inside and outside the apartment estimated that seven to 11 shots were exchanged, the affidavit states.
Police recovered two 9 mm shell casing and 11 10 mm casings.
Triplett’s cousin was hit in the heart and gall bladder causing “extensive damage,” the affidavit states.
He was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center and then sent by life flight to Colorado for further care.
Bernard was also transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Last Word: ‘Run'
Witnesses told police that Bernard was lying in a pool of blood on the concrete outside the door wearing a ski mask and in possession of a pistol.
Triplett and Neeman both told police following the shooting that Bernard’s last word to them was “run.”
Bernard’s girlfriend, who remained in the car outside the apartment, said prior to going into the building that she and Bernard had taken off their religious necklaces, put them together and said a prayer.
None of the trio called 911, they just took off in the car to gather weapons at Triplett’s residence to give to a friend.
Witnesses interviewed by police described the cousin and shooting victim as someone the apartment renter wanted out of the place.
Triplett told police that initially he thought that he and Bernard were going to be “pressing” his cousin with their fists, but when he saw Bernard pull out his gun, he continued because he did not want to be labeled a “pussy.”
The affidavit states Triplett admitted pointing his gun at his cousin with a round in the chamber, but when he tried to pull the trigger he had forgotten to release the safety.
“Triplett stated he took this as a sign and left the apartment,” the affidavit states.
The police investigation included a recording sent from a “reliable” and “unnamed source” after the shooting where Triplett and his girlfriend were heard talking about the shooting,” the affidavit says.
On one recording Triplett is heard stating that “KB (Bernard) had his blick.”
Blick is a slang term for a weapon.
In a second recording, Triplett is heard describing what he would tell police who maybe would find his fingerprints on shell casings or the gun.
“Know what I’m gonna say? This (n***a) was just in my crib, he got two warrants, and he robbed my blick,” the affidavit states was on the recording.
The affidavit states prior to May 11, Triplett was offering people $500 to get his weapon back from his cousin.
A police search of Triplett’s cellphone found a message sent to his cousin on May 9 that read, “I’m coming for you cuz.”
Both the aggravated assault and battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and battery carry potential penalties of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Neeman was charged with accessory after the fact in the case and faces arraignment next month in Natrona County District Court.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
