Authorities in Colorado are intensifying their search for 45-year-old Hanme K. Clark, the suspect in a fatal shooting that claimed the lives of three people and left another injured. The incident, which occurred in a remote wooded area of Custer County on Monday, is believed to have stemmed from a longstanding dispute over property lines.
Custer County Sheriff Lloyd "Rich" Smith, in a press briefing, revealed that the shooting took place around 1 p.m. on Monday. Among the victims were two men and a woman who lost their lives, while another woman sustained gunshot wounds to the chest but is expected to survive. A fifth individual managed to escape unharmed. The tragedy marks the 609th mass shooting in the U.S. this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
The suspect, Hanme K. Clark, is described as 6-foot-3, weighing around 200 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He is thought to be driving a white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck with a white topper, bearing the license plate BHLK27. "We knew immediately who the suspect was going to be," Sheriff Smith said, indicating prior civil disputes between Clark and at least one of the victims.
Upon their arrival at the scene, law enforcement officials, including a Fremont County SWAT team, were cautious due to the uncertainty of the shooter's location. "We didn't know where the shooter was... We entered at a high risk," Smith stated. The injured survivor was subsequently airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center in Colorado Springs.
The shooting prompted a shelter-in-place order in parts of Chaffee County, impacting areas south of Highway 50 from the Fremont County line to Poncha Springs. The order was later lifted, but officials, including Reggie Foster, public information officer for Custer County, urged the community to remain vigilant and report any sightings of Clark or his vehicle immediately.
As of Tuesday morning, the manhunt for Clark continued, with law enforcement agencies working collaboratively to apprehend the suspect. The identities of the deceased have not been released, and the investigation is ongoing. Sheriff Smith expressed optimism about the lead they have on Clark's whereabouts, saying, "We have a very good lead on almost exactly where the suspect and the vehicle are."
Community Advised to Stay Alert: In light of the manhunt, Foster advised residents to "keep your eyes open and be aware of what's going on in your surroundings." The incident has cast a shadow over the rural community, highlighting the potential for disputes to escalate into violence.
