A man has been arrested in connection with a shooting in Custer County, south of Colorado Springs, that left three people dead and another critically injured. Hanme K. Clark, 45, was taken into custody by New Mexico State Police after being found driving a white truck that authorities had been searching for. The shooting occurred on Monday afternoon, sparking a shelter-in-place order for the area of Rocky Ridge Road in Westcliffe. The small rural community, with a population of only 435 people, was left in shock by the violent incident.
According to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting is believed to have been the result of a dispute between neighbors over easement lines. Multiple witnesses have accused Clark of harassment and denying them access to part of his property. Court records show that the victims had accused Clark of trespassing on their land multiple times. In fact, just a few days before the shooting, one of the victims claimed to have captured an image of Clark dressed in hunting gear and carrying a rifle on their property.
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The shooting broke out when a surveyor was working on a property adjacent to Clark’s. The surveyor reported that Clark approached them, yelling about trespassing, before opening fire. The surveyor managed to escape, running to a nearby home to seek help. The victims have been identified as 63-year-old Rob Geers, his wife 73-year-old Beth Wade, and 58-year-old James Daulton. Another female victim remains in critical condition.
Sheriff Lloyd Rich Smith stated that deputies responded to the 911 call within two minutes, but due to the remote location, it took them 22 minutes to arrive at the scene. Law enforcement agencies, including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, assisted in the search for Clark until he was apprehended. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation. Clark is now in custody, facing charges related to the incident.
The tight-knit community of Westcliffe is left mourning the loss of their neighbors and trying to make sense of the tragic events that unfolded in their peaceful town.
