GILLETTE, Wyo. — A man has been charged after he allegedly shot a woman at a residence on O’Henry Drive while exhibiting erratic behavior. Javier Abeyta, 43, gunned down Marissa Allen on the night of October 9 after she tried to take a pistol away from him.
According to an arrest affidavit, Abeyta had been using methamphetamine before the shooting. Witnesses say he opened fire when Allen attempted to disarm him during a confrontation. The police report noted that Allen’s boyfriend was also involved in the incident.
Allen reportedly observed Abeyta with a “blank stare” before he aimed his weapon at her boyfriend. The gun malfunctioned while targeting the boyfriend, leading Abeyta to then shoot Allen.
After the incident, Abeyta allegedly admitted to shooting Allen to a witness. “I shot her,” he reportedly said.
Abeyta’s sister informed the police that he had been acting paranoid and required medical attention earlier that day. Witnesses described him as believing that others were trying to kill him.
Law enforcement recovered evidence, including a bullet from the drywall and the 9 mm handgun connected to Abeyta. Following the shooting, Allen was transported to a hospital and later airlifted to a medical center in Colorado, where she was declared brain dead.
Authorities indicate that Abeyta has a significant criminal history, with multiple previous arrests. He was being held on a $1 million bond for attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault, with potential upgrades to murder charges pending Allen’s condition.
