Pro cyclist fired gun in residential area of Deer Creek Canyon while riding

A professional bicyclist who fired a handgun as he rode through a residential area in Jefferson County in February said he unloosed the shots because he was having a rough day and needed to vent, according to a Jefferson County Sheriff’s report of the incident.

A deputy who issued Daniel Summerhill, 28, a member of United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team, a summons, found at least three spent rounds each about 50 yards apart, after responding to a report of shots fired on South Deer Creek Road.

Joe Porter, who lives in the area, followed Summerhill after the shots were fired on Feb. 21, and confronted him near West Grizzly Drive, according to the report.

Porter’s wife, Shawn Porter, who was on the road checking her mail box when shots were fired, told the deputy that she returned from work at 3:20 p.m. and heard three “loud pops.”

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLO. - A Jefferson County cyclist is suspected of shooting a gun while riding his bike to supposedly vent after what had been a "bad day."

The woman’s husband followed the cyclist and was the one to make the report of shots fired to the sheriff's office. The man confronted the cyclist, who first denied shooting but then said he that had been venting after a bad day.

The husband had taken video of the cyclist, and burned a copy to CD that he gave to the sheriff’s office after he made a report about the shooting.

Summerhill said to the officer that he had not been on his bike while he was shooting, and that he had no idea the area was residential and that he was therefore not allowed to shoot there. He said he did not know he was breaking any laws and had not meant to cause trouble.

The arrest report noted that the distance between the three shell casings found, about 50 yards, supports the husband and wife’s account that he was shooting while riding.

Daniel H. Summerhill, 28, appeared in Jefferson County court Tuesday morning and was advised of charges against him, which include one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct involving discharge of a firearm and one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment. He pleaded not guilty.

A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for July 12.

According to a Jeffco Sheriff’s Office report, Summerhill allegedly fired a gun toward the hillside while riding a bicycle near the home of Joe and Shawn Porter in the 11000 block of South Deer Creek Road on Feb. 22.

Charges lead to release from UnitedHealthcare cycling team
Summerhill is a pro cyclist who was previously a member of the U.S. men’s national cycling team, as well as teams sponsored by Garmin and Chipotle. More recently, he was a member of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team. UHC dismissed Summerhill last week after learning of the charges against him.

Lisa Contreras, Colorado regional spokeswoman for UnitedHealthcare, also said the company “empathizes with everyone from the community who has been impacted by this incident.”