Yardley Police Chief Shooter Has Sentence Reconsideration Denied

YARDLEY, PA —A Bucks County judge has denied a motion for the shooter of Yardley Police Joseph Kelly III to have his sentence reconsidered.

Last month, the attorney for Colin Petroziello, 26, of Yardley, asked for the sentence to be "modified" or reconsidered. He had been sentenced to 15-30 years in state prison for shooting Kelly during a four-hour standoff in August 2021.

A hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday morning before President Judge Wallace H. Bateman, but the motion was denied by the judge before the hearing, Manuel Gamiz Jr., director of communications for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, told Patch.

"The motion was denied and that’s it," he said.

Petroziello's attorney, Charles Peruto Jr., could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The four-hour standoff took place at Petroziello's apartment at Yardley Commons while Kelly was 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.

Kelly has tried to put the Aug. 18, 2021, shooting behind him.

Kelly and Bucks County Adult Probation/Parole Officer Cristina Viviano both testified at the sentencing about how they both came under fire at a condominium complex and how their lives and the lives of their families were impacted.

Speaking with Patch recently, the chief said that he "was disappointed to learn of this request for sentence reconsideration and the refusal of the defendant to accept responsibility for his crimes."

Kelly could not be reached for comment Wednesday.