A Milliken man who shot his wife in the leg, before he was shot by police who had responded to the domestic violence situation, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.
Andrew “Joe” Gerold, 29, was sentenced in Weld County after pleading guilty in January to two counts of felony menacing, according to the district attorney’s office.
Gerold faced a maximum 12-year term under a plea agreement.
The Milliken shooting happened on May 18, 2016, in the 700 block of South Saddleback Drive. A family member called 911 and said Gerold was armed, “going berserk” and had just , according to a news release from the district attorney.
Witnesses told investigators that Gerold had threatened to kill his wife and then commit suicide.
When officers arrived, Gerold had barricaded himself and his wife in the basement and refused to surrender. With officers on scene, Gerold fired more rounds before opening a basement door and being shot by police.
Both Gerold and his wife physically recovered from the gunshot wounds.
Gerold told police he was drunk and high on cocaine and marijuana during the incident.
“The defendant terrorized his family that night,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Thea Carrasco. “The safety of this community and those around him has been jeopardized by his consistent substance abuse and criminal behavior.”
