Posted on 01/02/2012 11:18:48 AM PST by Hunton Peck
A man who was suspected in the killing of a Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson on Sunday morning was found deceased on Monday.
A law enforcement officer with knowledge of the situation said Benjamin Colton Barnes was found in a ditch.
About 200 personnel from several law enforcement agencies were involved in the search for Barnes, said Ranger Kevin Bacher at a media briefing.
Barnes, who is also a suspect in a New Year's Eve shooting in Skyway, was believed to be heavily armed. Bacher said it's possible that Barnes had sufficient all-weather gear to survive overnight in the park's heavy snow and cold temperatures.
Bacher also said that Barnes would have to travel 6 to 10 miles on foot through higher elevations and deep snow to get back out to any populated areas. At several points in Monday morning's press conference, Bacher said police and rangers would be happy if Mother Nature was able to deal with Barnes so the suspect would not be able to do any more harm.
The search effort on Monday involved personnel on the ground and in the air, Bacher said. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters with infrared will be used, as well as K-9 units on the ground.
Ranger Anderson was shot shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday near Longmire Ranger Station. Bacher said the alleged shooter "blew through" a roadblock between Longmire and Paradise. The roadblock was set up to check cars entering the park for proper tires and tire chains.
When the driver did not stop, the rangers at the checkpoint radioed for assistance. Anderson established a roadblock to stop the car about a mile below Paradise.
When the driver encountered Anderson's roadblock, he exited his car and began firing on Anderson and another ranger, Dan Camiccia.
Anderson was struck while still insider her car. She radioed for help as the suspect fled on foot.
It took 90 minutes for rescuers to reach Anderson because Barnes continued shooting at law enforcement as they arrived.
Early Monday, rangers were able to evacuate about 150 park visitors and staff who were kept overnight at Jackson Vistor Center. Bacher said one group of campers remains inside the park -- a group of back-country campers who are believed to be camping at Reflection Lake. Cell-phone service is spotty, at best, in the park, so rangers must contact the group in person.
Just a hunch, but I’m betting suicide.
This one’s an information drop. It says that Barnes blew through a roadblock set up to see that people didn’t enter the park without proper chains or snow tires, and that when he did, Ranger Anderson set up a second road block and was killed when he blew through that. That puts a whole different perspective on possible motivations.
Unfortunate. Sounds like they were just doing their job, trying to ensure that no one got stuck and froze to death because their cars weren’t properly equipped. And Barnes was bound and determined to get up Mt. Rainier, not necessarily to shoot anyone.
Still crazy, but a different kind of crazy.
Mr. Rainier webcam:
http://www.visitrainier.com/pg/weatherWebcams/Mt-Rainier-National-Park-Weather-Forecasts-and-Webcams
“He apparently died after trudging into chest-deep snow while trying to elude snow-shoe wearing SWAT team members and other police who were on his trail.
Twenty-four-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes reportedly fled to the remote park following an earlier shooting that wounded four near Seattle.
Washington State Patrol spokesman Guy Gill says a body believed to be Barnes was found face down in the snow.
“Benjamin Colton Barnes was found in a ditch” They should of left him there.
WA ping
If Barnes was the guy they think he was, he had already shot four people in a Seattle suburb on New Year’s Eve.
When these things involve a former serviceman, I always like to wait until all the facts are in. Sad if he went off the deep end. Was he a nut or a real life Rambo? Anyone see anything regarding his service record?
Colton A. "Colt" Harris-Moore (born March 22, 1991) is a criminal and former fugitive from Camano Island, Washington.
Maybe because a city there is named Colton?
Colton: It's a boy! Since 1880, a total of 73,675 boys have been given the name Colton while we have no record of any girls being named Colton. The number of U.S. boys and girls named Colton each year http://www.babynameshub.com/gendercompare.cfm?Name=Colton
Maybe he stumbled upon D.B. Cooper in his secret hideaway.
Thanks for the links. :)
Agreed. They should have left him there.
Yep. And he was just trying to get up the mountain and hide out. It was too bad that that woman ranger got in his way.
I wonder who ordered her to set up a road block after Barnes went through the first roadblock down below? Even if she was armed, I doubt that she had the necessary experience or equipment to confront a guy with a gun like that.
***Maybe he stumbled upon D.B. Cooper in his secret hideaway.***
Dead after just a few hours? The MAD TRAPPER (Albert Johnson)he ain’t.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Johnson_%28criminal%29
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