Custer County, Colorado – Police are on the hunt for a suspect after a shooting in a rural area of southern Colorado left three people dead and another person injured. The incident, which occurred around 1 p.m. on Monday, was reportedly the result of a dispute over property lines, according to Custer County Sheriff Lloyd “Rich” Smith.
The shooter opened fire on a group of five people, resulting in the deaths of two men and a woman. A fourth person, a woman, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest but is expected to survive. A fifth person was able to escape the attack.
Authorities are seeking the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Hanme K. Clarke. Sheriff Smith revealed that the suspect and at least one of the victims had been involved in previous civil disputes over property lines, although further details were not provided.
The shooting took place in a wooded area in Custer County, a rural area with a population of a little over 5,000 residents. As law enforcement searched for the suspect with the help of a drone and SWAT team, a shelter-in-place order was issued to area residents at 1:43 p.m. ET.
The suspect, Clarke, was believed to be driving a white Dodge Ram pickup truck at the time. “We have a very good lead on almost exactly where the suspect and the vehicle are, and we’re working with another law enforcement agency to take him into custody,” Sheriff Smith stated.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.