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**VZF74G0M** · 01-02-2012, 01:08 AM

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Rang...136505173.html

Police search for suspect in Mt. Rainier National Park killing

by KING 5 News

Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:43 AM

Updated today at 5:48 PM

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MOUNT RAINIER, Wash. – More than 100 officers - including those from the FBI - are searching for the man who shot and killed a National Park Service ranger at Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday morning.

The suspect is believed to be armed with several rifles.

The ranger has been identified as 34-year-old Margaret Anderson.

The shooting occurred at 10:11 a.m. near Longmire Ranger Station. A park spokesman said another ranger attempted to make a vehicle stop near Paradise and the driver fled. When the driver was stopped at a roadblock about a mile below Paradise, shots were fired and Anderson was hit.

After being shot, Anderson radioed for help as the suspect fled on foot.

It took 90 minutes for back-up to reach Anderson because the assailant continued shooting at law enforcement as they arrived.

The Washington State Patrol, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are on the scene.

Sgt. Ed Troyer said the suspect's vehicle has been secured.

"What we found is evidence of somebody that probably knows how to survive in the woods ... weapons, body armor, extra equipment,' said Sgt. Ed Troyer.

Detectives are looking for 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes as their person of interest.

"We don't know much about him other than he has some weapons training and he has some pretty high-end weapons," said Troyer. "He was up here ... it looks like, by the items that were in the car, he planned on being up here, maybe even hiding out up here."

The park was closed while police searched for the suspect. Visitors at the Paradise area were put in lock down at the Jackson Visitor Center along with park staff. Armored vehicles were being brought in to transport people from the surrounding cabins out of the area.

Anderson was married with two children, ages 4 and 2. Her husband is also a ranger at Mount Rainier.

Anderson was the youngest of three children, her father, Pastor Paul Kritsch said.

He said his daughter always had an interest in wildlife and the outdoors and wanted to help people and that's what finally led her to being a federal park ranger.

“The community has lost a friend, somebody who cared about her job, cared about the people, cared about their safety, and wanted to make sure that everybody was having a safe time when they came to the park,” he said.

01-02-2012, 01:08 AM	#1
VZF74G0M Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 518 Senior Member	Police search for suspect in Mt. Rainier National Park killing http://www.king5.com/news/local/Rang...136505173.html Police search for suspect in Mt. Rainier National Park killing by KING 5 News Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:43 AM Updated today at 5:48 PM Gallery See all 4 photos » MOUNT RAINIER, Wash. – More than 100 officers - including those from the FBI - are searching for the man who shot and killed a National Park Service ranger at Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday morning. The suspect is believed to be armed with several rifles. The ranger has been identified as 34-year-old Margaret Anderson. The shooting occurred at 10:11 a.m. near Longmire Ranger Station. A park spokesman said another ranger attempted to make a vehicle stop near Paradise and the driver fled. When the driver was stopped at a roadblock about a mile below Paradise, shots were fired and Anderson was hit. After being shot, Anderson radioed for help as the suspect fled on foot. It took 90 minutes for back-up to reach Anderson because the assailant continued shooting at law enforcement as they arrived. The Washington State Patrol, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are on the scene. Sgt. Ed Troyer said the suspect's vehicle has been secured. "What we found is evidence of somebody that probably knows how to survive in the woods ... weapons, body armor, extra equipment,' said Sgt. Ed Troyer. Detectives are looking for 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes as their person of interest. "We don't know much about him other than he has some weapons training and he has some pretty high-end weapons," said Troyer. "He was up here ... it looks like, by the items that were in the car, he planned on being up here, maybe even hiding out up here." The park was closed while police searched for the suspect. Visitors at the Paradise area were put in lock down at the Jackson Visitor Center along with park staff. Armored vehicles were being brought in to transport people from the surrounding cabins out of the area. Anderson was married with two children, ages 4 and 2. Her husband is also a ranger at Mount Rainier. Anderson was the youngest of three children, her father, Pastor Paul Kritsch said. He said his daughter always had an interest in wildlife and the outdoors and wanted to help people and that's what finally led her to being a federal park ranger. “The community has lost a friend, somebody who cared about her job, cared about the people, cared about their safety, and wanted to make sure that everybody was having a safe time when they came to the park,” he said.
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