[UPDATE] Colorado Shooting: Suspect Arrested Following Manhunt

Colorado law enforcement personnel arrested a man following a search of a shooting that left three people dead and one in critical condition.

The development in the case comes after a day-long search for the individual responsible for the shooting, who was identified as 45-year-old Hanme K. Clark from Westcliffe. The Custer County Sheriff's Office said that the suspect was taken into custody by New Mexico State Police on Tuesday afternoon.

Colorado Manhunt

It added that a property dispute was believed to have been what led to the shooting, which occurred along a "property line in the wooded area" in Custer County. Police officers responded to the scene of the shooting at around 1:00 p.m. local time on Monday to a report of shots being fired.

The sheriff's office said that the officers discovered three people, two men, and a woman, fatally shot while another woman was in critical condition. The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office said that an arrest warrant was issued for Clark on three counts of first-degree murder, as per ABC News.

During the manhunt for the suspect, law enforcement personnel were looking for a white Ram 1500 pickup associated with the suspect. The vehicle was spotted at a Walmart in Salida after the shooting incident.

In a statement, the Chaffee County Sheriff's office said that the car's occupant bought several items in the Walmart and promptly left in the vehicle "in the direction of the Methodist Mountain residential area."

Officials issued shelter-in-place orders in Custer and Chaffee counties during the manhunt for the suspect, which were lifted after his arrest. Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith noted that the incident was reported near a residence on Rocky Ridge Road in Westcliffe.

Smith announced Clark's arrest during a news conference, saying that the suspect was taken into custody shortly before 3:00 p.m. near Albuquerque. He added that the arrest went without incident and that "nobody was injured," according to CNN.

Fatal Shooting of Three People

The sheriff also said that the suspect and at least one of the victims who were shot have been in previous civil disputes about property lines and easements. The three fatal victims were identified as 63-year-old Rob Geers, 73-year-old Beth Wade Geers, and 58-year-old James Daulton.

The latter's wife, Patty Daulton, was the fourth person involved in the incident who was wounded and was being treated for injuries at a trauma center. During the news conference, Smith said that her condition was improving.

The sheriff said that now that they have the suspect in custody, they have a lengthy investigation ahead to get the case to prosecution. He had hoped that the development would bring relief to the neighborhood and the community as well as closure for the families of the victims and their friends.

Smith also said they had visited the suspect's house multiple times in relation to property disputes. He said that during those times, there were no indications that it would have led to a shooting, said USA Today.

Tags

Colorado, Shooting, Manhunt