By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
On Dec. 24, a Grand Jury charged a Girdwood man with attempted murder for the multiple shooting of another Girdwood Man.
David Yannello, 29, of Girdwood is accused of shooting another man, Brad Phelps, 31, four times during a confrontation shortly after midnight on Arlberg Road in Girdwood on Nov. 23.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, the jury indicted Yannello with Assault in the First Degree, and Tampering with Physical evidence, all felony charges.
Yannello was originally charged by the District Attorney’s office with Assault in the First Degree and Misconduct Involving Weapons on Dec. 16.
Phelps was shot four times by Yannello. The charging documents stated that Yannello left Phelps lying in a snow bank on the side of the road bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds in the abdomen and arm. Phelps was transported to Providence Hospital where he underwent surgery. He is now recovering at home.
Yannello was released on $50,000 bail on Monday, Nov. 24; however, a new bail hearing was set for Dec. 31, where sources said prosecutors would request that the bail be raised to $100,000.
Yannello turned himself in to the Girdwood Trooper’s office about 30 minutes after the shooting. He gave a statement to Sgt. Bryan Barlow. He was arrested shortly thereafter.
Yannello, stated in the charging documents that after he shot Phelps he allegedly took a knife that belonged to Phelps. The knife was found in his possession after Sgt. Barlow padded him down, court documents reported. The knife was reportedly a standard folding pocketknife, which is the evidence being used in the weapons tampering charge, sources said.
Troopers found seven spent casings apparently from a .45 caliber handgun at the scene of the shooting. The charging documents reported that Yannello stated that he and Phelps got into an argument and Yannello said Phelps allegedly came at him with the knife.
Yannello alleged that he pulled his .45 Kimber handgun and fired a warming shot. He said Phelps continued to come toward him, at which point he shot Phelps, the charging documents stated.