BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

CANTON — State police say both Shawn Sheridan and Chantelle Myatt were dressed in camouflage during the recent shootout near Donnerville Road that ended with Sheridan’s death.

Following a recent interview with Chantelle Myatt, who lived with Sheridan for a month and is pregnant with his child, state police provided a response to questions issued by North Country This Week.

State police confirmed that Myatt was reported to be a missing person on July 27, 2023 to the Village of Canton Police Department.

Myatt had voluntarily gone with Sheridan on what she says was described to be a camping trip. However, she said at some point during the trip she became aware that she wasn’t allowed to leave.

State police say significant resources from multiple agencies were used in the search for fugitive Shawn Sheridan and missing person Chantelle Myatt on August 10, 2023.

Sheridan was considered a fugitive from justice after he failed to show up for sentencing on July 18, 2023. He was facing 12.5 years in prison for shooting his former girlfriend in the neck with a .22 caliber firearm.

He was killed by trooper Connor Sutton after police said Sheridan fired at officers who were approaching to apprehend him.

In a recent interview Myatt said she does not believe Sheridan fired his weapon. She described hearing three “distinct” shots, which she believed to have come from the same weapon.

Troopers however say that evidence has confirmed that Sheridan’s weapon was fired in their direction.

Police initially believed the police K9 had been shot, but said upon examination the dog was not injured from gunfire.

“Forensic evidence at the scene has confirmed one of the shoulder weapons possessed by Sheridan was fired in the direction of the police K-9 and approaching law enforcement. K-9 Skiff was immediately recalled after Sheridan was deemed not to be a threat. As previously corrected, K-9 Skiff was not shot but was evaluated and treated for a leg injury which occurred during the incident.

Although Myatt said she was aware Sheridan was facing charges related to violence against his ex-girlfriend, she maintains that she did not know Sheridan was a fugitive. She said that they had been living off wild game including crawdads, birds, minnow jerky and even possum. She said they collected water from a nearby waterfall.

Myatt and Sheridan, who was out on bail, were already living in the Russell woods at the time he was scheduled for sentencing.

However, troopers say Sheridan and Myatt were dressed in camouflage patterned clothing typically used to avoid detection.

“Myatt was wearing a ghillie suit, a type of camouflage clothing designed to blend into natural surroundings,” troopers said.

Myatt’s mother Bonnie, was critical of law enforcement. She raised concerns that her daughter's life was put in danger during the shootout and seeing the father of her child killed.

Troopers maintain that Myatt was brought home safely and returned to her family. They also noted that they had hoped to bring Sheridan into custody in a safe manner.

“The objectives of the search were to safely locate Myatt and return her to her family and to take Sheridan into custody and transport him to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. It was the goal of law enforcement to take Sheridan into custody without incident.”