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Mount Rainier ranger shooting: Iraq veteran found dead | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The body of an Iraq war veteran wanted over the killing of a park ranger in Washington state has been found, officials have said. | |
Officials found the suspected gunman, Benjamin Colton Barnes, in Mount Rainier National Park. | |
The park has been closed since Margaret Anderson, 34, was shot dead while trying to stop a vehicle on Sunday morning. | The park has been closed since Margaret Anderson, 34, was shot dead while trying to stop a vehicle on Sunday morning. |
Barnes, 24, had also been linked to an earlier shooting at a New Year's party. | Barnes, 24, had also been linked to an earlier shooting at a New Year's party. |
The body of Barnes, reported to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, was found face down in the snow. | |
Mount Rainier National Park Chief Ranger Chuck Young said that they were seeking to establish the exact cause of death. | |
"He was wearing a T-shirt, a pair of jeans and one tennis shoe. That was it," Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. | |
Police said they had also recovered his vehicle, which had weapons, body armour and survivalist gear inside. | |
'Argument over weapon' | 'Argument over weapon' |
The gunman sped past a park checkpoint that was monitoring vehicles for tyre chains, sometimes required in snowy conditions. | The gunman sped past a park checkpoint that was monitoring vehicles for tyre chains, sometimes required in snowy conditions. |
As one ranger gave chase, mother-of-two Mrs Anderson blocked the road with her vehicle to stop the driver. | As one ranger gave chase, mother-of-two Mrs Anderson blocked the road with her vehicle to stop the driver. |
Both of them were fired on, but only Mrs Anderson, who was married to another ranger, was hit. | Both of them were fired on, but only Mrs Anderson, who was married to another ranger, was hit. |
Response teams could not reach the wounded officer for nearly an hour-and-a-half because the gunman continued to shoot, the Seattle Times newspaper quotes officials as saying. | Response teams could not reach the wounded officer for nearly an hour-and-a-half because the gunman continued to shoot, the Seattle Times newspaper quotes officials as saying. |
Police said Mr Barnes was also wanted for questioning over an early-morning shooting at a party in Skyway, just south of Seattle, which left four people injured, two critically. | |
Witnesses said a number of revellers at the gathering had been armed and that gunfire broke out following an argument over a weapon. | Witnesses said a number of revellers at the gathering had been armed and that gunfire broke out following an argument over a weapon. |
The national park shooting happened as hikers and climbers enjoyed the wooded trails and views of the 14,410 ft (4,392m) Mount Rainier on an unseasonably mild New Year's holiday. | The national park shooting happened as hikers and climbers enjoyed the wooded trails and views of the 14,410 ft (4,392m) Mount Rainier on an unseasonably mild New Year's holiday. |
The park was immediately closed, and about 125 visitors were moved into a visitors' centre before being evacuated under cover of darkness on Monday morning. | The park was immediately closed, and about 125 visitors were moved into a visitors' centre before being evacuated under cover of darkness on Monday morning. |
'Angry and depressed' | 'Angry and depressed' |
An aircraft fitted with heat-sensing technology helped to search for the suspect from the air, while 150 officers combed the park's grounds. | An aircraft fitted with heat-sensing technology helped to search for the suspect from the air, while 150 officers combed the park's grounds. |
Mr Troyer described the situation as "very... dangerous", with teams of tactical responders pursuing the gunman's tracks in the snow. | |
He added that the gunman had run through creeks, which had made it harder to follow his tracks. | |
The gunman is said to have been possibly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following his deployments to Iraq in 2007-08, according to an affidavit submitted by the mother of his child. | The gunman is said to have been possibly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following his deployments to Iraq in 2007-08, according to an affidavit submitted by the mother of his child. |
She sought a temporary restraining order against Mr Barnes during a custody dispute in July 2011. | She sought a temporary restraining order against Mr Barnes during a custody dispute in July 2011. |
Barnes got easily irritated, angry and depressed, she added, and kept a variety of weapons in his home. | |
Park superintendent Randy King said of Mrs Anderson's death: "It's just a huge tragedy - for the family, the park and the park service." | Park superintendent Randy King said of Mrs Anderson's death: "It's just a huge tragedy - for the family, the park and the park service." |