Suspects In Gunfight In Greeley Walmart Parking Lot Released

Two men who allegedly got into a gunfight in a Greeley Walmart parking lot on Friday that apparently involved over 20 shots being fired were released because of new booking policies at the Weld County Jail.

But the investigation into the incident is continuing and charges will be filed against the men through the District Attorney's Office. That's according to a post on the Greeley Police Department Facebook page.

According to the post, police were called to the Walmart at 3103 23rd Avenue around 7 a.m. on Friday on a report of a shooting incident.

Officers found one of the men on the scene and located the other one a short time later. According to the post, investigators found over 20 shell casings on the scene. Several cars were hit by bullets and one person was in his vehicle when it was struck, but no one was injured in the gun battle. Police say the two men knew each other through work and had gotten into a physical fight prior to the gun battle.

According to the post, both men were from out of state. The post identifies the suspects as 24-year-old Jewan Satcher and 23-year-old Sheldon Nails.

Both men were charged with engaging in a riot, fighting by agreement-dueling, four counts of reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm. and prohibited use of a weapon. But the post says the men could not be held in the Weld County Jail:

''Due to the Weld County jails new booking policies, neither suspect was able to be booked into jail. Because the suspects were from out-of-state and the violent nature of this incident, the Greeley Police Department made a special request to have these suspects booked into jail, and that request was denied by Weld County jail staff. The suspects were released, and charges will be filed with the District Attorney’s office."

The policies were instituted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a jail expansion project, and a lawsuit, according to the Greeley Tribune newspaper. Under the policy, only people arrested for certain felonies will be booked into the jail, according to the Tribune.