A Cortez woman was in serious condition late Friday afternoon after she was shot Thursday night with a shotgun, allegedly by the former manager of the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.

According to police reports, the incident began when Melissa Elliott, 35, of Cortez, was involved in a head-on vehicle collision with an SUV driven by Dante J. Sena, 41, also of Cortez. Sena is now an employee of the Montezuma County landfill.

Around 9 p.m., Elliott’s 2001 Pontiac Bonneville collided with Sena’s 1997 Chevy Tahoe on Fifth Street between Market and Chestnut, according to Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane. The accident was still under investigation Friday.

After the crash, Sena got out of his Tahoe and "fired at least four shots" with a 12-gauge shotgun into Elliott’s vehicle, Lane said.

He said Sena shot through the windshield, which was still intact, and also through the passenger-side window. Elliott sustained gunshot wounds to the face, neck and arm, and was rushed to Southwest Memorial Hospital by paramedics. She was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction shortly thereafter.

A nurse at the ICU there reported that Elliott was in critical condition Friday afternoon, but would not comment further. Later, Elliott’s condition was downgraded to serious, a nurse said.

Elliott also had her throat and windpipe slashed with a knife while she was in the vehicle, Lane said.

District Attorney Joe Olt also said that Sena allegedly cut Elliott’s throat while she was in the vehicle. However, he added, Sena has not been formally charged yet.

Lane said the investigation was ongoing and refused to comment on a motive. However, he said the two were acquainted.

Sena is on felony hold for suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, following a bond advisement Friday morning, Olt said. Bond was originally set at $100,000, but then Olt’s office learned of the victim’s condition. "I believe he is being held on a no-bond," Olt said.

Formal advisement of charges will be by June 12. Further details are expected Monday, Olt said.

A resident of a nearby apartment told the Journal Friday afternoon she and her family had heard a crash Thursday night, and, about 30 seconds later, "we heard pop, pop! — like very big firecrackers."

The woman, a psychologist who refused to give her name, said she saw a man standing at the Pontiac’s passenger side, hitting at the hood "with a passion I can’t even describe. He was just annihilating that car." She thought he was perhaps armed with a bat, but later realized he was using the butt of a shotgun.

According to the woman, the man stopped suddenly and stood staring "blankly" at Elliott’s car for about five minutes. He then leaned over and put his hand on his head "like he couldn’t believe it," the witness said.

He reportedly knelt beside the car and touched Elliott’s leg before taking her out of the vehicle and over to a lawn.

Tyler Jorgensen, who lives nearby, told the Journal Friday that he saw a man pacing around the car "like he didn’t really know what to do. You could tell he was mad — really mad. When I asked if he needed any help, he said, ‘Stay back.’ I saw him take her (Elliott) over to the lawn and put her down, and he cried out he needed help . . . I really wanted to help, but I was kind of worried, considering the gunshots. It was wild and crazy."

The psychologist said her husband went to render aid to Elliott, and used towels to staunch the bleeding. Elliott apparently asked the man, "Am I going to die? I’ve got four kids."

The woman also told the Journal that she did not think the assailant had threatened anyone at the scene. He told onlookers not to come any closer and that the gun was on the ground. She also thought she heard him say, "Get her (Elliott) some help."

"He seemed in two frames of mind," the woman said. "You could tell it was deliberate. . . then he became almost docile."

Police apprehended Sena at the scene. Despite scanner accounts that sounded as though there was a pursuit, "there was no foot chase," Lane said. "Sena was directly across the street and that is where he was arrested."

He said confusion on the point may have resulted from reports that a resident in the area had heard the shooting and came out with his gun. The man then "went back down the alley to put it away," Lane said.

Sena has been with the county landfill since October 1999, according to Montezuma County Administrator Tom Weaver. He was manager of the county fairgrounds from April 1987 to September 1993 and from January 1995 to June 1999, Weaver said.

Elliott healing after shooting

June 20, 2002

By Katharhynn Heidelberg

Journal Staff Writer

The woman injured in a June 6 shooting incident is doing "remarkably well," according to her husband.

Melissa Elliott, 35, was shot three times with a 12-gauge shotgun, allegedly by Dante Sena, 41.

Sena reportedly drove head-on into Elliott’s vehicle, which was parked on Fifth Street in Cortez. According to police reports, he then got out of his Tahoe and shot Elliott three times through her windshield.

Witnesses reported seeing him beating the windshield with the butt of the gun afterward. Elliott also apparently sustained a knife wound.

Elliott was air-lifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, where she remained as of Wednesday. Her husband, Heath Elliott, told the Journal Wednesday that his wife is "doing remarkably well. She’s much better."

According to him, doctors are working on moving Melissa Elliott out of ICU. She has undergone reconstructive surgeries to allow for healing, Elliott said. He has been informed that his wife might be allowed to return home in as soon as 10 days. Melissa Elliott is expected to undergo massive physical therapy and rehabilitation, and more surgeries may follow.

"She can speak now," Heath Elliott said. "That’s really lifted her spirits. Every day, she’s getting closer."

Melissa Elliott released the following statement through her husband: "Be sure to tell everyone in the community I’m extremely grateful for all the flowers, cards and support we and our children have got."

"We really have got a lot of help and support at a rough time," said Heath Elliott. "It’s muchly appreciated."

Cards may be sent to Melissa Elliott care of St. Mary’s Hospital, 2635 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction, CO, 81501.

Sena, recently advised on a felony charge of first-degree attempted murder, remains jailed in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

In an interview conducted by Cortez Police Department Detective Randy Matthews on June 7, Sena reportedly said that he saw Elliott, with whom he claimed to be having a relationship, as she was parked in her vehicle, speaking to another man on June 6.

Police have not verified Sena’s claims about the relationship, but have said rumors that more than one person was inside Elliott’s vehicle were inaccurate.

According to the police report of the interview, Sena said that after seeing Elliott speaking with another person, he drove to his residence on Road F. There, he retrieved and loaded the shotgun and went back to town, the report said.

"Several witnesses observed Dante Sena intentionally drive his vehicle into Melissa’s vehicle," the report read. "...Dante told me that he drove his vehicle into Melissa’s" and got out. He allegedly remembered shooting twice into her car, and the report said he smashed the shotgun into the front windshield.

"Dante then helped get Melissa out of the vehicle and onto the grass," the interview report noted. Sena was subsequently arrested.

Police hoped to interview Elliott about the shooting on Wednesday, but this was conditional on her health at the time, said Detective Sgt. Jim Shethar.

Court documents indicate that the shooting was not the first incident of alleged violence on Sena’s part. In 1996, Sena was issued a citation which stated he "knowingly and recklessly cause(d) bodily injury to Melinda Sena."

Melinda Sena, then his wife, had reported that he "grabbed her hair and her arm, shoved her arm against her face, causing pain to her lip, jaw and ear," according to court records. Sena was originally charged with third-degree assault and domestic violence.

The case was deferred in 1997, after Sena agreed not to violate traffic or criminal laws, to inform the court of his address, pay costs as directed, and complete domestic-violence evaluation.

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Elliott healing after shooting

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