Following a seven-day trial that concluded last Wednesday, 31-year-old Tyler Moreno has been convicted on multiple charges stemming from a 2021 shooting at the Alma Police Department. As reported by MLive, Moreno was found guilty but mentally ill on charges including two counts of assault with intent to murder and several firearms offenses.
The incident originated on October 18, 2021, when Moreno drove to the police station and began to quickly fire upon officers and their patrol vehicles. In the ensuing exchange, Moreno was hit by returning fire but managed to flee before stopping near the Alma College campus, where his arrest took place. The jury ultimately rejected Moreno's insanity defense, opting instead to convict him as guilty but mentally ill, which will see him subject to traditional sentencing alongside required psychiatric treatment. ABC12 detailed the following charges: attempted murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, discharging a firearm at a building, and six weapons charges.
Gratiot County Prosecutor Laura Bever was quoted by MLive expressing gratitude to the jurors for their dedication during the trial and acknowledging Jennifer Shephard, her chief assistant prosecutor, for "her many hours of dedicated trial preparation." This trial is particularly notable as it represents Shephard's final case before retirement after nearly 20 years in service.
Moreno is scheduled to be sentenced on September 16, where he could face a life sentence for the attempted murder charge alone. In addition to the most recent convictions, Quinn informed the public that Moreno had previously been sentenced in May 2023 to a prison term of 15 months to eight years for felonious assault related to an earlier offense. This decision was particularly poignant coming from Gratiot County Circuit Judge Shannon L.W. Schlegel, who also presides over the upcoming sentencing. During his time in custody, Moreno faced additional counts of assaulting a jail employee and disarming a peace officer, which has since been dismissed, as per ABC12.
