Ríhanna Kelver, 28, a bartender and trans rights activist in Laramie, Wyoming, could be facing up to 15 years behind bars for allegedly drawing a firearm to protect herself from an attacker.
The incident took place on Sep. 13 2025, outside her workplace, the Crowbar & Grill. Kelver, in remarks reported by the Laramie Reporter, says she experienced homophobic and transphobic insults from a group of men across the street, before a man identified as Scott Durham approached her and shoved her to the ground.
Surveillance footage of the incident obtained by investigators is said to back up this version of events. While on the ground, Kelver reportedly drew a handgun, racked it, and pointed it at her alleged assailant.
“I’d hit the ground and I saw the three of them over me”
Kelver has said she was afraid for her safety after being shoved to the ground and facing multiple people. She has emphasized that her finger wasn’t on the trigger and she at no point intended to fire her weapon. Her stated reason for carrying the gun was that there was a recent stalking incident at her bar, and she has a firearm training background. In her words:
“I’d hit the ground and I saw the three of them over me, and that is when I had reached into my side satchel. The safety was on, and my finger was never on the trigger. I had simply wanted them to hear the chambering to get them away from me, and I had pointed the firearm in their direction — specifically at the individual who assaulted me.”
Prosecutors decided to pursue felony charges of aggravated assault (threatening with a drawn deadly weapon) and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent against Kelver, with an Albany County judge ruling that the prosecution can move forward to district court.
Her defense argues that her actions were lawful self-defense under Wyoming’s Stand Your Ground law. They point out that she was outnumbered three to one, was assaulted first, and was lying on the ground when she produced the legally owned firearm.
Wyoming’s Stand Your Ground law states that a person being attacked has “no duty to retreat” as long as they didn’t start the conflict and aren’t engaged in unlawful activity and are permitted to use “reasonable force” to prevent further injury or loss.
Kelver said, “My hope initially is that the truth of the situation prevails. My hope is that I am found not guilty, and that we get to pursue genuine justice for what happened to me.” Durham, the man who allegedly shoved her to the ground, has had no charges filed against him.
Kelver is scheduled to be arraigned on June 24 in Albany County District Court.
Published: Jun 11, 2026 11:04 am