Man Arrested After Fatally Shooting Three People in Property Dispute: Rob Geers, Beth Wade, and James Daulton Identified as Victims

A man has been apprehended by the police after being on the run for one day following a shooting incident in rural Colorado. The suspect, Hanme K Clark, 45, has been accused of fatally shooting three people and critically injuring a fourth individual. The incident is believed to be the result of a long-standing property dispute regarding the use of an easement on the suspect’s property.

The shooting occurred on Monday at the property of one of the victims, just a week after an area landowner requested that the suspect be held in contempt of a court order from June 2022. This court order had granted the landowner access to their property by crossing the suspect’s land. The suspect had allegedly locked a gate and posted a sign indicating that the property owner was armed, further escalating the dispute.

Easements, which grant legal rights to cross someone else’s land, are crucial in rural American communities. In this case, the victims were identified as Rob Geers, Beth Wade, and James Daulton, with Patty Daulton being critically injured and receiving treatment at a trauma center.

Custer County Sheriff Lloyd Rich Smith stated that all the victims were involved in property disputes with the suspect. However, their names were not mentioned in any previous lawsuits or court filings against the suspect. The sheriff emphasized that although there had been previous incidents related to the property dispute, there were no indications of potential violence.

The suspect, who was also a part-owner of a business called Herbal Gardens Wellness, was eventually arrested by the New Mexico State Police. The shooting took place on the property line in a wooded area, prompting a search by law enforcement using night vision equipment. Despite a truck believed to belong to the suspect being spotted 80 kilometers away, authorities now believe he had already left the area before deputies arrived at the scene.

The property dispute revolved around an easement that allowed several individuals access to their property through the suspect’s land. The court had resolved the issue in June 2022, granting the landowners access. The suspect’s lawyer, who represented him in the lawsuit, could not be reached for comment.