
Jared Andersen, Sheridan Newsroom
Sheridan police have arrested three teens in the shooting death of an elderly man.
79-year-old Robert Ernst was shot 3 times and killed early yesterday morning at his home in Sheridan.
Police have arrested 19-year-old Dennis Poitra, Jr., and two juveniles ages 15 and 16.
All three live in Sheridan. They were to appear in ccourt Thursday afternoon.
Police say the teens stole a nine millimeter gun out of a car days before the shooting. According to police accounts, the three planned to leave Sheridan, but wanted to rob some houses in order to get money for their trip.
Detective Scott Brastrup says Ernst was shot three times with a 9-mm pistol.
The Ernst home was selected by the mere fact that windows were open to allow the freshly cleaned carpets to air out overnight," police chief Mike Card said. "During the course of the burglary that followed, Bob Ernst was shot."
The Sheridan county prosecutor says the teens will be tried as adults.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.