Affidavit: Man shot by Weld deputy shot several rounds into the air despite commands to drop weapon

A man who was shot twice by police late last month fired several rounds into the air despite repeated commands to drop his weapon before the shooting. Police arrested Joe Sanchez, 18, on Oct. 30, three days after he fired several rounds into the air during a party last month in unincorporated Weld County just outside Greeley, according to an affidavit for his arrest.

Sanchez spent two days in the hospital before police arrested him on suspicion of felony menacing, tampering with evidence, disorderly conduct, a parole violation and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to Colorado court records. Shortly after midnight on Oct. 27, Weld County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a noise complaint in the 200 block of 2nd Avenue Lane near Greeley.



Fifteen minutes later, another report came in from the same address — this time for a disturbance. Dispatch notes indicated a woman was celebrating her birthday but had gotten too drunk and was trying to fight people. Police arrived to a large, open lot that was hosting a concert for the attendees of the birthday party.

They found the woman responsible for the original disturbance, but while talking to her, deputies heard numerous gunshots in the immediate area, according to the affidavit. As police began searching for the source of the gunshots, they heard more gunshots and say they saw a man roughly 25 feet away in a nearby parking area pointing a handgun upward. Police ordered the man — later ide.