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Colin Petroziello, now 25, pleaded no contest in September to attempted murder, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, and a host of other felonies stemming from the summer 2021 incident, said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub in a statement Monday, Feb. 6.
As prosecutors argued in court, Petroziello was with his mother in their shared apartment at the Yardley Common Condominiums on Aug. 18, 2021 at 11 a.m., when his mom texted his parole officer Cristina Viviano and asked her "for assistance," the DA said.
While walking toward their condo, Viviano heard "slamming and arguing coming from inside the apartment" and radioed for backup. Yardley Police Chief Joseph Kelly was on the scene moments later, authorities said.
The pair knocked and identified themselves as police, but received no immediate answer, officials said. As Chief Kelly was peeking into a window, he saw Petroziello aiming a gun at the door, prosecutors said.
Petroziello opened fire just as the chief ducked out of the way, but Kelley was struck in the ear and hand, DA Weintraub said.
Inside, Petroziello remained barricaded with his mother — not allowing her to leave or police to enter, authorities wrote. The standoff dragged on for another four hours before Petroziello fell asleep and his mom threw his shotgun out the window, officials said.
The emergency response team found him passed out from alcohol and Xanax with a pistol tucked in his waistband, police wrote.
Chief Kelly was hospitalized for his wounds and later released. At Petroziello's sentencing hearing Monday, Common Pleas Judge Wallace H. Bateman, Jr. heard from the chief's daughter, who said she still has nightmares about the incident.
She also heard from parole officer Viviano, who said the chief's quick action saved her life.
“Chief Kelly, you are my hero,” she said, according to the DA. “I am standing here because of you.”
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