GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Grand Junction Police Department released the affidavit for the arrest made in the Laguna Drive shooting that happened on earlier this week.

According to the arrest affidavit, Nicholas Engeman and Stephanie Engeman took George Wakefield hostage at a camp near the GJPD shooting range. Wakefield was reportedly dropping someone off at the campsite when he found Nicholas Engeman pointing a gun at a camper. Wakefield reportedly grabbed his rifle in an attempt to stop the altercation.

The affidavit then states, “Nicholas [Engeman] saw this and immediately pointed the gun at Nicholas [Engeman] forcing him to leave the rifle in the truck.”

Nicholas Engeman then reportedly hit Wakefield in the face with his handgun and a shoe and then reportedly took Wakefield’s rifle.

Nicholas Engeman then pointed Wakefield’s rifle at everyone at the campsite, ordering the campers to retreat to their tent, per the affidavit.

The affidavit also states Stephanie Engeman and Nicholas Engeman demanded Wakefield write a bill of sale for his scooter. The two reportedly demanded Wakefield write a bill of sale for his scooter for the two. Nicholas Engeman then reportedly held Wakefield at gunpoint while demanding Wakefield drive the Engemans to his residence to retrieve the scooter.

At his house, Wakefield managed to retrieve another of his firearms in his house near the front door. Wakefield then fired two shots in the direction of Nicholas Engeman, who was in the kitchen going through Wakefield’s belongings, according to the affidavit. Stephanie Engeman then reportedly took Wakefield’s cane and began beating him with it. The affidavit states Wakefield shot Stephanie Engeman while this was happening and believed his gun to have malfunctioned due to the proximity of Stephanie Engeman’s clothing. Wakefield believed that Nicholas Engeman dropped his firearm in the kitchen while the altercation unfolded.

The Engemans then reportedly fled the house. According to the affidavit, Stephanie Engeman went for the scooter while Nicholas Engeman ran away. The affidavit states Wakefield cleared the malfunction in his firearm and fired one more shot at Nicholas Engeman while he fled.

Paramedics found Stephanie Engeman in a driveway down the street a short time after with a gunshot wound and expedited her to the hospital. Medical staff rushed Stephanie Engeman into surgery upon her arrival.

The affidavit states the responding officers’ body worn camera captured Stephanie Engeman’s ‘dying declaration.’ Lawn enforcement reportedly asked her, “Did George do this?” to which Stephanie replied, “Yes.”

GJPD officers arrested 41-year-old Nicholas Engeman and took him into custody on three outstanding warrants. Nicholas Engeman is a convicted felon with an active parole warrant for a weapons violation, and he is permanently restrained from weapons or firearms, per the affidavit. No information was included in the arrest affidavit as to how Nicholas Engeman obtained the original firearm he was holding at the beginning of the incident.

Nicholas Engeman is currently being held without bond in the Mesa County Detention Facility, according to the Mesa County inmate locator. The arrest affidavit charges him with the following:

  • Menacing
  • Attempted aggravated robbery
  • First degree kidnapping
  • First degree burglary
  • Possession of a weapon by a previous offender
  • Violation of a protection order
Engeman, Nicholas. Photo courtesy of Mesa County Sheriff’s Office

The GJPD last reported Stephanie Engeman in stable condition at the hospital on June 6. Stephanie Engeman does not appear in the Mesa County inmate locator, nor was she pronounced deceased by the Mesa County Coroner. Stephanie Engeman is scheduled to appear in court this week, per an online Colorado Judicial Branch court docket search. Western Slope Now was ultimately unable to confirm whether Stephanie Engeman is currently deceased or alive.

Western Slope Now will update this story when new details become available.