Four Victims Identified in Fatal Shooting Incident in Custer County; Suspected Gunman Arrested; Manhunt Underway for Hanme K. Clark

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Four Victims Named in Custer County Shooting Incident, Suspected Gunman Arrested

In a tragic incident that unfolded on Monday, the names of the four victims have been released by the authorities. The suspected gunman, identified as 45-year-old Hanme K. Clark, was apprehended by the New Mexico State Police on Tuesday, according to a statement by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office on social media.

The Custer County coroner has identified the deceased victims as Rob Geers, Beth Wade, and James Daulton. However, there is some hope as one victim, Patty Daulton, is currently receiving treatment at a trauma center, as reported by the Custer County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect is still at large following the shooting, as confirmed by the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday. Video surveillance footage shows Clark entering a Walmart parking lot after the incident and purchasing “numerous items” before fleeing the scene in a white Ram 1500 pickup truck with a topper. The truck bears the Colorado license plate BHLK27, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office.

Residents of the rural area were instructed to shelter in place for five hours on Monday as law enforcement agencies conducted a manhunt for Clark. However, the order was lifted on Monday night, providing some relief to the community.

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office issued a social media post on Tuesday, urging residents to remain indoors and stating that they are actively searching for the suspect. The affected area is located in the southeastern part of the county, spanning from the Freemont County line to Poncha Springs and situated approximately 40 miles northwest of the shooting site.

Local law enforcement agencies, including the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Salida Police Department, and Buena Vista Police Department, joined forces to conduct an overnight search with the assistance of two drones. The Denver Police Department also provided helicopter support on Tuesday.

Despite extensive efforts, the search yielded no results. The CCSO officials stated, “An air search of the entire shelter in place area was conducted and the suspect vehicle nor the suspect were located.” Consequently, the shelter in place order was lifted.

Chaffee County Sheriff Rich Smith addressed the public on Tuesday afternoon, visibly shaken and teary-eyed. He revealed that Clark’s vehicle had been discovered abandoned as a result of the search. The U.S. Marshall Service and the Colorado Bureau of Investigations have joined forces in the search, and multiple tips regarding Clark’s whereabouts have been received.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office has obtained an arrest warrant for Clark, charging him with three counts of first-degree murder. Sheriff Smith expressed the office’s determination to arrest and prosecute Clark on all charges.

The shooting incident took place at 173 Rocky Ridge Road, just northeast of Westcliffe, on Monday afternoon. The CCSO stated in a Facebook post that the incident appears to have stemmed from a neighbor dispute, escalating into shots being fired shortly before 1 p.m. The wooded area on the property line served as the setting for the tragic event.

Each victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and another woman was critically injured and rushed to the hospital, according to the CCSO. Sheriff Smith revealed that the dispute originated from an easement between property lines, with the shooting occurring on the deceased victim’s property. He added that while property disputes are not uncommon in the area, they rarely escalate to violence.

Law enforcement authorities have identified Clark as the owner of Herbal Gardens, a business that seemingly had some involvement with the disputed property. Clark has a history of being involved in property disputes over the course of several years, as reported by the Gazette.

This is an ongoing investigation, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available..