Man Arrested for Fatal Shooting in Colorado Property Dispute

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Denver (KDVR) — A 45-year-old man named Hanme K. Clark has been arrested in connection with a shooting that resulted in the deaths of three people and the critical injury of another in Custer County, south of Colorado Springs. The arrest was made by the New Mexico State Police after Clark was found driving a white truck that authorities had been searching for. A female was also found in the vehicle with him.

The shooting took place on Monday afternoon, prompting a shelter-in-place order for the area of Rocky Ridge Road in Westcliffe while police conducted their investigation. The incident occurred in a small rural community with a population of just 435 people.

Neighbors who were not involved in the shooting have accused Clark of harassment, as well as denying them court-ordered access to part of his property to reach their own. Court records indicate that Clark had also posted signs claiming he was armed. According to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting appears to have stemmed from a dispute between neighbors over easement lines.

The shooting occurred while a surveyor was working on a property owned by Rob Geers, near Clark’s property in Westcliffe. The surveyor reported that Clark approached them, yelling about trespassing, before opening fire. Luckily, the surveyor was able to escape and seek help at a nearby home.

The victims of the shooting 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 was critically injured. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office believes that Clark knew at least one of the victims. Court records show that Geers had previously accused Clark of trespassing on his land on four separate occasions. Geers had even captured an image of a man dressed in hunting gear and carrying a rifle, whom he believed to be Clark, on his property.

After 25 hours on the run, Clark was apprehended by the New Mexico State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service near Albuquerque. He now faces charges for the fatal shooting and the critical injury of the fourth victim.

Custer County Sheriff Lloyd Rich Smith provided a timeline of the events that unfolded on Monday. A 911 call about the shooting was received at 12:59 p.m., and deputies were dispatched to the scene at 1:01 p.m. Due to the rural nature of the area, it took 22 minutes for the deputies to arrive. The search for Clark continued until 8 p.m., with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The sheriff emphasized that the crime scene was held overnight due to the darkness in the area, allowing investigators to thoroughly examine it in daylight on Tuesday. It is currently unclear whether Clark has legal representation, and no comments have been made on his behalf. The investigation is ongoing.

The tragedy has left the small rural community of Westcliffe shocked and grieving. The close-knit town, nestled in a valley between two mountain ranges, is home to both farms and ranches, as well as vacation homes. The shooting has highlighted the need for improved conflict resolution and neighborly relations in such tight-knit communities..