Poker Games at Wyoming Senior Home Lead to Deadly Shooting

An argument over poker games at a Wyoming senior living facility turned deadly. (Image: timesrecordnews.com)

Authorities say poker games caused a deadly shooting at a Wyoming senior living facility. The alleged murderer, a 77-year old resident at the facility had, according to police, become irritated by poker games being played in a common room.

Larry Rosenberg, the man in question, shot three people, killing one, before pulling the trigger on himself. Detectives discovered a suicide note written by the alleged killer. In the note, Rosenberg mentioned being irritated by the poker games.

Cheyenne Police Department spokesman Dan Long did not go into specifics about what may have caused the incident. Investigators are looking into a possible dispute between the shooter and his victims.

But haven’t come to any conclusions.

Matthew Wilson, the man who passed away, was a 45-year old employee at the senior living facility. The two other victims, both treated Cheyenne Regional Center, are residents. Gregory Gilbert, 65 and Larry Warwick, 74, were injured in the incident. Warwick was treated and released. Gilbert was, as of Thursday, still in critical condition.

Following the shooting, Rosenberg hopped on a bicycle to flee the scene. He got about a mile away before authorities closed in on him. That is where he pulled the trigger and ended his life.

“Affordable, Senior Living”

Heritage Court Apartments, the site of the mass shooting, is a senior living center for low income people ages 62 and above. According to its website, the facility is “independent, affordable senior living at its best.” Well, maybe not all the time.

The residency is located in the state’s capital city, Cheyenne. Rent is based on income and tenants must meet maximum income guidelines. We were unable to find many online reviews of the facility from current or previous residents.

Why Did He Snap?

Police haven’t outright said there was animosity between Rosenberg and his victims. But detectives hinted at a longstanding feud.

How much of a role the poker games played in causing Rosenberg to pull out a gun is also unknown. In the old days, poker games would often lead to shootings.

In 2016, that is a rare occurrence. Of course, most poker shootings were over a dispute at the table or a bad beat. Rosenberg wasn’t involved in the games.

A resident described Rosenberg as being upset with the poker games taking place in the common room frequently.

“He did not like it. In fact, a lot of the people didn’t like it,” Mary Eastman,80, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle after the shooting. “That’s all I can think of. He was getting fed up with having the poker in there every other day.”