CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne police arrested two suspects early Thursday morning after multiple shots were fired at officers in separate incidents near East High School and the Bicycle Station.
At around 1:15 a.m. Sept. 5, Cheyenne Police Officer Eric Smale was conducting a security check near East High School, located at 2800 E. Pershing Blvd. While outside his vehicle, the officer heard multiple gunshots fired in his direction. He retreated to his vehicle and began searching for the suspect.
Fifteen minutes later, Officer Marcus Hairston-Payton was near the Bicycle Station at 2634 Dell Range Blvd. and reported shots being fired at him by occupants of a white van. The officer pursued the van, initiating a high-risk traffic stop near North College Drive and Parkview Drive, according to an announcement by the Cheyenne Police Department.
The suspects — William Nicholson, 19, and Tayren Smith, 18 — both of Cheyenne, were arrested without incident. Officers found a stolen firearm from Fort Collins, Colorado, inside the van, along with a bullet casing. A video of Nicholson driving and shooting from the van was also recovered.
Nicholson faces charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer, conspiracy and possession of a stolen firearm. He also had an active warrant from Platte County for failure to comply with a previous theft charge.
Smith was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and possession of a stolen firearm.
Both Nicholson and Smith had prior encounters with law enforcement earlier this year. On June 13, Nicholson was arrested on warrants for failure to appear and failure to pay in connection with theft and possession charges. Smith was arrested on July 4 for public intoxication after police responded to a report of a fight near Gardenia Drive, according to police booking sheets.
