A 65-year-old man — identified as Steven Robert Wood — was shot and killed early Wednesday in what authorities say began as a home break-in gone tragically wrong in the Hill-N-Park neighborhood south of Greeley. The fatal confrontation erupted after Wood reportedly forced his way into a neighbor’s home on the 4200 block of Grand Teton Road.
At about 1:21 a.m., deputies from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting call at the address. According to the initial dispatch, the homeowner — who had been embroiled in a “long-standing feud” with Wood — told deputies that the suspect had kicked in his door and entered the residence while carrying “an object in his hand.”
A struggle ensued. In the course of that struggle, the homeowner shot Wood, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement sources say the homeowner remains hospitalized but is in “critical but stable” condition.
Wood’s death has been ruled a homicide by the coroner. The coroner’s office has identified the victim as Steven Robert Wood of unincorporated Weld County.
Authorities say this appears to have been more than a sudden dispute — the shooting followed a “long-standing feud” between neighbors, “one that escalated into violence,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office say the case remains under active investigation. Those with information relevant to the incident are being asked to contact detective Brandon Stupka via phone or email.
In the quiet hours before dawn, a dispute that neighbors say had simmered for some time — accusations, anger, and tension built over days or weeks — exploded into a fatal act. For now, Steven Wood is gone, leaving questions, grief, and a neighborhood shaken.
