Boulder woman suspected of shooting neighbor's home

As reported in the Daily Camera of Boulder, CO: (by Vanessa Miller - March 13, 2009)

BOULDER, Colo. — A Boulder woman arrested Friday on suspicion of firing a bullet from her home into her next-door neighbor’s house — nearly hitting a mother and her 4-year-old daughter — accidentally fired the round while she was going through some belongings, according to Boulder police.

Darine Chely, 49, turned herself into police after firing the gun about 3:50 p.m. Thursday, said police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley. She immediately posted a $5,000 bond to get out of the Boulder County Jail and faces one felony and two misdemeanors: possession of a weapon by a previous offender, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment.

Police were called to the Dakota Ridge neighborhood in North Boulder by the neighbor, who told police she was lying on her bed with her 4-year-old daughter in their single-family home in the 1000 block of Terrace Circle when she heard a “loud boom,” according to Huntley.

The woman, whose name has not been released, saw wooden blinds on a nearby window blow into the room and shatter into pieces, Huntley said.

Investigators later determined the noise and damage were caused by a bullet that went through Chely’s external wall, an outside wall of the neighbor’s house and a piece of furniture before finally ending up in the daughter’s room in a wall over the bed, Huntley said.
No one was hurt.

“They are very fortunate that this didn’t end more tragically,” Huntley said.

After obtaining a search warrant, police entered Chely’s home and found a 16-gauge shotgun, a .44 Magnum handgun and one box of ammunition inside.

“She has indicated that she didn’t mean to fire the gun,” Huntley said. “She was going through belongings and found the gun and didn’t realize it was loaded and pulled the trigger.”

Huntley said the neighbor, who was missed by the bullet, also has a 2-year-old child.
“It’s my understanding that she was very fearful and concerned about the welfare of her children,” Huntley said.

Chely has a lengthy criminal history, involving numerous money, theft and forgery charges in Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams and Eagle counties, according to court records. A 2009 forgery case remains open and is awaiting trial, and Huntley said Chely shouldn’t have had a weapon because of those charges.

Chely couldn’t be reached for comment Friday, and a man who answered her home phone wouldn’t comment except to say, “It was an accident.”

To view the Arrest Warrant and Affidavit, please CLICK HERE