Eureka teens charged for shooting at bicyclist
Apr. 28—Two young men from Eureka have been charged for their alleged involvement in shooting a bicyclist with a device called a "splatter ball gun."
Caleb S. Utter, 18, and Tyson Brouillette, 18, are each charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, first offense, after an April 2 incident.
A conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $100.
According to a report by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Deputy Scott Welchons, he was patrolling on the evening of April 2 when he received a report of a 58-year-old man being shot in the head by someone in a red or maroon Ford F-150 truck with a BB or pellet gun. The alleged victim was riding his bike on U.S. 93 near Glen Lake Road, south of Eureka.
Welchons reported he and Eureka Police officer Sean Tribble spotted a vehicle matching the description driving north near 5th Street. Welchons pulled the truck over and spoke to two 18-year-old men, Braden Casazza and Brouillette. Casazza was the driver of the truck.
When the deputy asked if they had a BB or pellet gun, they said they had a "splatter ball gun" (a water/gel pellet type gun). Casazza said Brouillette shot the bicyclist. While Welchons interviewed Casazza, the bicyclist rode up and identified the truck as the one the men were riding in when he was shot.
When Welchons asked Brouillette if he had shot the man, he allegedly acknowledged doing so. Casazza then turned the gun over to Welchons.
Officer Tribble told Welchons that he had stopped the other vehicle with two others, including Utter and a 17-year-old male, and interviewed them about the alleged incident. Utter allegedly said he had shot at the bicyclist, but didn't strike him.
The alleged victim went to the North Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center on April 2 and left his contact information. When Welchons contacted the bicyclist the next day, on April 3, he was unsure about pressing charges. But on April 4, the alleged victim did return to the Law Enforcement Center to file his complaint.
According to various media reports, Utter signed to play college football on Feb. 1 at Montana Western. The Daily Inter Lake reported Utter was an All-State football player in 2021 at linebacker his junior year, and was a member of Eureka's 2019 state championship squad. He missed his senior season after suffering a torn ACL last summer.
Other media accounts indicate Utter and Brouillette are members of the high school varsity baseball team. Brouillette was also on the Lions football team.
Media accounts indicate Casazza has played varsity sports for the Lions, including football, basketball and track and field.
