AURORA | An Aurora man on Thursday was found guilty of murder after he shot dead his apartment complex neighbor in 2019 after a dispute over shooting off fireworks.
Scott Alan Mathews Jr., 29, was found guilty in an Arapahoe County district court of second-degree murder in the July 4, 2019, shooting death of Jaharie Wheeler, then 38.
“Bringing a gun to an argument can lead to tragic consequences, and that is the case here,” said District Attorney John Kellner, according to a statement from his office. “The defendant made a horrible decision, and he will pay the consequences. The family of Mr. Wheeler will live with the result of that horrible decision for the rest of their lives.”
The incident began July 4 when Aurora police responded to the Greensview apartment complex at 16498 E. Alameda Place at about 10:30 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of a shooting in the area, according to police. First responders found Wheeler in the courtyard of the complex with a gunshot wound in the chest.
Witnesses told police Wheeler had gotten into a fight with Scott Mathews, then 26, after Mathews had head-butted and pointed a handgun at Wheeler’s girlfriend, 38-year-old Shamira Cotton, in the courtyard.
Mathews, an officer with the state Department of Corrections, had gotten into a shouting match with Cotton moments before the shooting in a disagreement over lighting fireworks in the area, according to an arrest affidavit filed against Matthews.
Katherine O’Neal, 27, told police she and Mathews had gotten into a verbal argument with Cotton and Wheeler because they were concerned their dogs would become anxious and frightened by fireworks being set off in the area. Cotton and Wheeler’s children, ages 9 and 14, were lighting fireworks in the courtyard.
O’Neal, who is also a Department of Corrections employee, told police she also drew her handgun during the altercation, but never pointed her weapon toward anyone.
Cell phone video footage of the incident showed Wheeler pushing Mathews and punching him in the head, according to the arrest document. Mathews can then be seen drawing a semi-automatic handgun and shooting Wheeler once in the chest.
Mathews then attempted to rendered aid to Wheeler, but witnesses told him to back away, according to the affidavit. Police arrested Mathews the following day.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2022, according to DA spokesperson Viki Migoya. Mathews faces up to 48 years in prison.
“After what started as an argument over fireworks, (Wheeler) was killed in front of his fiancé and children for standing up to defend them,”, said Assistant District Attorney Tom Byrnes, who prosecuted Mathews in the case.
This is great I hope he get all 48 years and a boyfriend named bubba.
Bullshxt verdict you can’t push and punch somebody whose telling you you’re violating the noise ordinance of the county, because when you decide to assault people who are legally carrying that person can legally defend himself as well.
District Attorney John Kellner is an enemy of the people.