Man Who Shot Yardley Police Chief Sentenced To State Prison: DA

Updated: 3:47 p.m. Monday

YARDLEY, PA —The borough man who shot and injured Police Chief Joseph Kelly III after a standoff in 2021 was sentenced Monday, authorities said.

Colin Petroziello, 26, of Yardley was sentenced to 15-to-30 years in state prison by Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Wallace Bateman Jr., the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said.

Kelly and Bucks County Adult Probation/Parole Officer Cristina Viviano appeared before Bateman Jr. to testify about the day on Aug. 18, 2021, about how they both came under fire at a condominium complex and how their lives and the lives of their families were impacted.

"It is my hope that Mr. Petroziello gets the help he so desperately needs and is rehabilitated during his incarceration," Kelly said in a statement to Patch Monday. "I am grateful to the police officers who responded 566 days ago. I will forever be grateful to these agencies and their Chiefs. The cooperation is Bucks County Law Enforcement increases the level of public safety. I'm thankful for the outstanding work of 1st DA Jennifer Schorn and the Bucks County Detectives."

A four-hour standoff began when Kelly was shot through Petroziello's apartment door at Yardley Commons while attempting to conduct a well-being check.

The chief suffered injuries to his left hand and left ear and was treated at St. Mary Medical Center.

Viviano testified Monday that when she went on an offender check at the Yardley Common Condominiums on Aug. 18, 2021, something did not feel right, so she radioed dispatchers for a status check if she’s not heard from in five minutes.

It was the first time she had ever done that in more than 9,000 offender visits and her instincts proved correct.

“Chief Kelly, you are my hero,” Viviano said during Petroziello’s sentencing. “I am standing here because of you.”

After hearing from Viviano, Kelly and Kelly’s daughter, who said she continues to have nightmares about the day she almost lost her father, Bateman sentenced Petroziello to 15 to 30 years in a state correctional institution.

He also ordered him to undergo probation for 15 years once he’s done serving his time and pay $43,782.18 in restitution.

“If not for the heroics of the police chief and others acting in a quick and efficient manner, this could have been much worse,” Bateman said.

Petroziello, 25, of Yardley, entered a no-contest plea in September to counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, two counts of attempted murder, six counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of assault of a law enforcement officer, persons not to possess a firearm, false imprisonment, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime.

At 11 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2021, Viviano arrived to conduct an offender check on Petroziello.

She heard doors slamming and arguing coming from inside his apartment, and immediately called for assistance from Yardley Borough Police. Kelly arrived a short time later.

Petroziello’s mother texted Viviano from the parking lot, asking her if she had arrived.

Ann Petroziello told Patch Tuesday that she did not know that her son was armed at the time of her last correspondence with Viviano.

At a preliminary hearing held on Aug. 31, 2021, Kelly testified he was able to peer into a windowpane on the door and could see a male, later identified as Petroziello, inside, aiming a shotgun at the door. Kelly was able to move as Petroziello fired a shotgun through the front door with the projectiles penetrating the door and striking Kelly in the hand and ear.

Kelly testified Monday that he continues to have limited mobility of his injured hand.

Armed with the shotgun, Petroziello barricaded himself in the unit and prevented his mother from leaving and police from entering.

Law enforcement agencies from throughout Bucks County converged on the scene and established a perimeter. He was taken into custody after a more than 4-hour standoff. The South Central Bucks County Emergency Response Team helped to get Petroziello's mother out through a window.

Before she got out, Petroziello’s mother was able to toss a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun out the window when her son fell asleep.

When the SERT Team later made entry, they found Petroziello unconscious. They recovered a loaded .45-caliber handgun tucked in his waistband, and a second loaded magazine was found in his pants pocket. Bucks County Detectives also found a set of brass knuckles in Petroziello's bedroom.

A background check revealed Petroziello was twice committed on involuntary mental health commitments, making him ineligible to possess a firearm under Pennsylvania law. He also had an active protection-from-abuse order against him from his maternal aunt.

During Monday’s sentencing, First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer M. Schorn detailed Petroziello’s history of drug use and propensity for violence, spanning nearly a decade.

“The public is not safe if the defendant is out in the community,” she said.

Bucks County Detectives led the investigation with the assistance of Lower Makefield Township Police Department, Yardley Borough Police Department, Newtown Township Police Department, the South Central Bucks County Emergency Response Team, and Pennsylvania State Police.

Kelly said the sentencing should also bring closure to "Viviano, the communities we protect, and our families."