An armed robber who shot an off-duty detective outside an Arvada convenience story has been convicted by a Jefferson County jury of multiple crimes.
Samuel McConnell, 45, is guilty of second-degree assault causing injury, aggravated robbery, and tampering with physical evidence, among other charges, for the Dec. 18, 2019, robbery and shootout, according to a district attorney’s office news release.
On the morning of the incident, McConnel, wearing a mask, entered a Circle K, in the 8000 block of Kipling Street, and demanded money from a clerk, the release said.
Detective Michael Felsoci, at the time a 14-year veteran of the Denver Police Department, was outside the store pumping gas into his vehicle. Felsoci’s son was with him. A customer alerted Felsoci that an armed robbery was taking place.
Felsoci drew his weapon and walked toward the store when McConnell came out. Felsoci repeatedly told McConnel to stop.
The officer, who testified at the trial, told the jury that he was “looking down the barrel of a gun” when he opened fire, according to the news release. Shots were exchanged and Felsoci was hit in both arms. McConnell’s windshield was hit by gunfire.
McConnell’s two-year-old daughter was in the vehicle during the incident, according to the release. McConnell, who had robbed a little more than $200 cash from the store, fled in his vehicle at a high speed. His vehicle collided with another vehicle at West 80th Avenue and he continued driving north on Kipling, getting away. McConnell was arrested that evening in the 8300 block of Sheridan Boulevard after investigators received tips from the public.
The jury, on Wednesday, also found McConnell guilty of theft, five counts of reckless endangerment, child abuse — reckless, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury. The convictions are misdemeanors and traffic offenses.
McConnell had also faced charges of criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder and first-degree assault, both felonies, but he was acquitted of those charges, according to the release.
At trial, McConnell took the stand and testified that he shot at Felsoci in an attempt to stop the off-duty officer’s gun fire, the release said.
McConnell is being held, without bond, at the Jefferson County jail and faces up to 49 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
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