Mistrial Declared in Cheyenne Attempted Murder Trial of Adrian Maggos

Mistrial Declared in Cheyenne Street Shooting Case

The four-day trial of Adrian Maggos ended in a sudden, quiet stalemate Friday afternoon. After deliberating for more than 13 hours, the jury informed Laramie County District Court Judge Nathaniel Hibben that they were hopelessly deadlocked. The panel, consisting of seven men and five women, could not reach a consensus on whether Maggos was guilty of attempted second-degree murder or the lesser charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of Matthew Kerlee.

A mistrial was declared Friday in Adrian Maggos' four-day trial for attempted second-degree murder when a Cheyenne jury deadlocked after deliberating more than 13 hours without a verdict. "The jury is stuck," the 12 members told Judge Nathaniel Hibben.https://t.co/mgmuAmXwmZ

— https://x.com/daily_cowboy/status/2118898275160051851

The incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of April 30 in front of Maggos’ home on Central Avenue, left Kerlee with a gunshot wound to the chest. Following the jury’s second note to the court—a blunt message stating, “The jury is stuck”—Judge Hibben officially declared a mistrial. Maggos was led out of the courtroom by Laramie County Sheriff’s deputies and returned to jail, where he remains as the legal process faces a significant reset.

A Conflict of Narratives

The trial hinged on a sharp disagreement over what transpired in the street outside 3523 Central Avenue. According to testimony, the confrontation began when Kerlee arrived at the property with Parres Mondragon, Maggos’ ex-girlfriend. Defense attorneys Cassie Craven and Stacy Kirven argued that Maggos acted in self-defense, asserting that Kerlee was in an alcohol and drug-fueled rage. During closing arguments, Craven pointed to the presence of methamphetamine, fentanyl, THC, and alcohol in Kerlee’s system as evidence of his state of mind.

The prosecution, represented by Assistant District Attorney Steven McManamen, countered that Maggos was the aggressor. McManamen dismissed the defense’s claims of a looming threat, noting that Mondragon had sent Maggos a text containing a “lovey-dovey, heartfelt song” shortly before the encounter. The jury’s struggle to reconcile these conflicting versions of events was underscored by their requests to re-examine evidence, including door-camera footage and a 911 call from a neighbor who rendered aid to Kerlee after the shooting.

The Burden of a Reset Trial

When the jury first indicated they were deadlocked, Judge Hibben urged them to continue, emphasizing the weight of their responsibility and the practical reality that failing to reach a verdict would necessitate starting the entire process over with a new jury. This outcome represents a significant logistical and emotional toll for the judicial system. In the United States, mistrials due to deadlocked juries—often referred to as “hung juries”—are a rare but inherent risk in the adversarial process. According to the United States Courts, the jury system relies on the unanimity of peers to ensure that the burden of proof is met beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the Laramie County District Attorney’s office, the path forward is now complicated. Judge Hibben has scheduled a status hearing for April 12, 2027, to address the next steps in the case. McManamen indicated that a different prosecutor would represent the district attorney’s office at that time, signaling a potential shift in the state’s strategy for a retrial.

Physical Evidence and Unresolved Questions

The trial featured conflicting details regarding the weapon used in the shooting. While Maggos allegedly told friends he had “secured” the firearm, it was never recovered by police. A 9-mm pistol provided by Maggos’ brother was later tested by the Wyoming State Crime Lab and confirmed not to be the weapon involved in the shooting. Furthermore, the presence of two different brands of 9-mm cartridge casings at the scene left the jury with lingering questions about the sequence of events and the possibility of other participants.

Schurr trial jury remains silent as deadlock continues; expert predicts verdict or mistrial Thursday

As the case moves toward its 2027 status hearing, the community is left with the same questions that kept the jury in deliberation for two days. The legal system’s requirement for unanimity means that until a jury can agree on whether the shooting was a criminal act or a justified reaction to a threat, the case of Adrian Maggos remains an open chapter in the Laramie County courts.

Worth a look