Published on October 28, 2020
GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Weld County man is facing more than 200 years in prison after a jury convicted him last week of 11 different charges, including one count of attempted first degree murder of a police officer. In August of 2018, Weld County deputies were called to a domestic disturbance at a home on “C” Street just outside Greeley city limits. The report began with a threat to property with a baseball bat. While deputies were en route, the defendant, Ismeldo Junior “Shorty” Arredondo, armed himself with a 12 gauge pump shotgun, forcing his family to flee the home. When deputies arrived, the defendant’s wife begged them not to shoot the defendant. She told them the shotgun was only loaded with blanks. While deputies were struggling to get the defendant’s wife out of the area, the defendant burst through the front door and opened fire twice before he was wounded by a return shot. One deputy was wounded by hundreds of shotgun pellets. The defendant barely missed four other deputies and the defendant’s wife. The wounded deputy was rushed into emergency surgery and survived. Last week, a Weld County jury convicted Arredondo of: one count of attempted first degree murder of a police officer after deliberation, five counts of attempted first degree murder with extreme indifference, four counts of first degree assault on a police officer, and one count of felony menacing. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 30 at 9:00 a.m. Arredondo faces 80 to 240 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia prosecuted this case.