A 17-year-old Casper girl is accused of stabbing another teenager on Halloween

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to report the accused teenager’s initial court appearance Friday afternoon.

CASPER. A 17-year-old Casper girl made her first appearance in Casper District Court on Friday to face felony charges accused of stabbing another 17-year-old girl on Halloween night Thursday.

Gabriella Altman appeared on a video screen from the Natrona County Juvenile Detention Center before Judge Kevin Tagheri while her parents were in the courtroom.

Tagheri told Altman she was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing another teenager and read the teen victim’s initials.

He asked Aultman, who is being charged as an adult, if she understood the charges against her.

“Yes, your honor,” she replied.

Altman also told the judge that she attends Roosevelt High School.

Natrona County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Cole asked the judge for $100,000 cash or bond.

“It was a deliberate act,” he said. “We believe she will be a danger to society if she is released on bond.”

When the judge asked Altman what she wanted to say about her bond, she said, “I don’t know what that means.”

The judge explained the bail, after which she replied that she did not want to say anything. Altman also told the court that she is on probation.

Father Altman said the bail amount would be a concern because she would not be able to continue counseling.

Judge Tagheri agreed with Cole and set bail at $100,000 cash or surety and told Altman that if she gets out, she must have no contact with the victim in the case and remain in the custody of her parents.

“Yes, your honor,” she replied.

What happened

Earlier Friday, the Casper Police Department said in a news release that officers arrived in the 1500 block of North Poplar Street at approximately 9:30 p.m. Thursday and found a teenage girl with an apparent stab wound to the abdomen.

“Life-saving measures were initiated and the juvenile was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center in critical but stable condition,” the CPS said.

Police department spokeswoman Amber Freestone said the victim was also a Casper resident and that she could not release any other information beyond what the department provided in its initial report.

It said witnesses identified a “suspicious vehicle” that was quickly located and stopped by “partner law enforcement.” There were three minors in the car, the suspect was interviewed by operatives and detained.

A charge of aggravated assault carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. An affidavit in the case was not immediately available.

The stabbing is the latest in a growing list of juvenile gun and community violence incidents.

• The police responded to a juvenile male shot Oct. 19 in the 3200 Block of Hamilton Way. The juvenile suspect has been identified, but no other information about the case has been released, including whether criminal charges have been filed against the alleged suspect.

• Sept. 25 by Casper police an 18-year-old suspect was detained during a July 4 shooting in Casper Park, in which the victim was taken to Banner Health Medical Center with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

• A 19-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday in Natrona County District Court a gun-toting and shooting incident in the morning of August 31.

• On August 12, a 15-year-old fired four shots from a gun into a mobile home where residents were sleeping, saying: “I hope I killed one.”

• Allegedly a 15-year-old boy shot his ex-girlfriend in the head and killed her near a park in Casper on May 14. A plea hearing is scheduled for this month.

• Two teenagers are awaiting trial as a result of the April 7 stabbing of 14-year-old Bobby Meher.

Dale Killingback can be reached at the address [email protected].