Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Manhunt Underway After Four People Shot in Custer County, Colorado

CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – The tranquil community of Custer County, located in Colorado, was left in shock after a horrifying shooting incident that took place on November 20. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) swiftly responded to an urgent 911 call reporting that four individuals had been shot on Rocky Ridge Road, in the northern part of the county, just northeast of Westcliffe.

The victims were identified as Patty Daulton, her husband James Daulton, and two others, Robert Geers and Beth Wade-Geers. According to court documents, Patty Daulton, the 911 caller, provided a description of the suspect as a tall man, measuring approximately 6 feet, with black hair and wearing glasses.

Law enforcement officials immediately began investigating the incident. They spoke to a surveyor who happened to be present at the scene during the shooting. The surveyor informed the police that he was assisting with surveying an address in the area when the terrifying incident unfolded.

As per the CCSO, the surveyor revealed that he was with Robert Geers, the homeowner, when an individual named Hamne, who Geers referred to as the suspect, confronted them angrily, accusing them of trespassing. Without warning, Hamne started shooting, prompting the surveyor to flee to a nearby house where he dialed 911 for assistance.

However, this shocking incident appears to have a history rooted in property disputes. Court documents indicate that Hamne Clark, the suspected shooter, had been involved in several conflicts over land ownership. In 2020, Herbal Gardens Wellness, an LLC, filed a lawsuit against several property owners in Custer County, including Clark.

The lawsuit claimed that the defendants did not have the legal right to access their properties using an easement, which grants the legal right to cross or use someone else’s land for a specific purpose. Additionally, the LLC alleged that the defendants had harassed them due to their Native American heritage.

However, counterclaims made by the neighbors accused Clark of harassing them by erecting locked gates at the entrances of the easements. Eventually, the lawsuit failed in 2022, and a judge ruled in favor of the neighbors, allowing them to continue using the easement. The LLC was also ordered to pay over $8,000 to the neighbors as a result of a judgment.

Unsatisfied with the court’s decision, Herbal Gardens Wellness appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals. However, earlier this year, the appeal was dismissed by a judge, solidifying the previous ruling.

Recent documents indicate that Robert Geers had filed an armed trespass complaint on November 11, 2023, claiming that Hamne Clark had trespassed on his property multiple times. Geers even provided a photograph allegedly depicting Clark in hunting gear, holding a rifle. Geers expressed concern about the escalating harassment and the potential involvement of weapons.

After discovering three lifeless bodies on the Geers’ property, the CCSO initiated a manhunt for Hamne Clark. Surveillance footage revealed that Clark’s truck was spotted at a Walmart in Salida, CO. A woman, believed to be Clark’s suspected girlfriend Nacy Medina-Kochis, entered the store, made a purchase, and returned to the truck to communicate with someone inside. The woman then put on a mask and re-entered the store, while an unidentified male and a dog remained near the truck. Shortly afterward, the woman returned, and the truck left the premises.

A large-scale search, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, was initiated to locate and apprehend Hamne Clark.

Breaking news emerged on November 21, as the New Mexico State Police and the US Marshals successfully apprehended Hamne Clark near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Clark is currently in custody and awaits extradition to Colorado to face charges related to the shooting incident.

Meanwhile, Patty Daulton, one of the victims, is recovering from her gunshot wounds, and the community of Custer County is left grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event.

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