Forest Service Ranger Shot and Killed at National Park, Suspect Still At Large
- Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:22pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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A sheriff’s office in Washington state tells the Associated Press that a U.S. Forest Service ranger has been shot at Mount Rainier National Park.
According to KATU, 34-year-old park ranger Margaret Anderson was fatally shot following a traffic stop in the 368-square-mile park Sunday.
“At around 10:20 a.m. Sunday, another park service employee had tried to stop a man in his vehicle. He didn’t stop, so Anderson set up a road block with her vehicle in the middle of the road, said park spokeswoman Lee Taylor. The man pulled up to Anderson about 11 a.m., jumped out, fired and ran off, she said.
Troyer said when authorities arrived they were also shot at, but no one else was hit.”
Anderson died from her injuries. Officials closed the park after the shooting, and KATU reports that investigators are searching for 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes, a “strong person of interest.” Investigators recovered a car in the park filled with weapons, body armor and survivalist gear, but would not yet say to KATU whether the car belongs to Barnes.
The News Tribune reports that the shooting happened just before 11 a.m. near the Longmire Ranger Station. The Tribune writes that Anderson is married to a fellow park ranger an has two daughters, who are approximately 2 and 4.
“She loved people and she loved being outside,” Paul Kritsch, Anderson’s father, told KOMO News Radio.
Pierce County Sheriff‘s Department Detective Ed Troyer tells The Tribune that more than 100 law enforcement personnel from agencies including Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, Washington State Patrol, U.S. Forest Service and other local police agencies are at the park searching for the suspect.
Authorities tell KATU that the suspect is still in the woods with an assault rifle.
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Comments (122)
jzs
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:00amThe latest news is that the guy was a Muslim, doing a jihad thing and attaching America’s heartland.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:17amMy thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.
Report Post »tjhbob
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:09amHey MORON is the correct spelling of “moran”. You are a little more off instead of being a little more on!
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:07amMy father always told me that if a person needs to use vulgarity to convey a message then the message more then likely isn’t worth conveyance…
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 12:54amIf any of you really want to see how fun visiting a National Park nowadays can be, while unarmed, feel free to visit one down here in Texas or anywhere along the border. I hear that running for your life from armed cartel members, while in areas with zero cell phone service or law enforcement can be a hoot for a vacation activity.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:26pmit was not an illegal it is a 24 year old white guy. he has shot several cars and everyone is panicking. he apparently has full body armor and military training. I have a family member there now.
Report Post »Tacitus42
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:29pmI doubt he had an assualt rilfe as they are full auto. Again no gun ban at national parks .http://azdailysun.com/news/gun-ban-in-national-parks-lifted/article_b61c88c3-62dc-5a41-b65f-4d38bac9136c.html
Report Post »txbigfoot
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:40pmAn assault rifle is full auto? What are you smoking? Just where do you get your information? Because where ever it is your wrong. Not ever “assault rifle” is full auto. In fact 99.9% are not.You need a Form 3 to own one unless your a cop or military.(or he illegally made it). Bottom line is get off your liberal high horse on guns in the park.. omg.
Report Post »ThaBigPerm
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:08pm@txbigfoot
Report Post »Tacitus42 is actually correct. The term “assault rifle” has been deliberately misapplied to semi-auto variants used and purchased by civillians to get the sheeple scared to create the political will for gun bans. Any wonder why when the MSM does a story on “assault rifles” they show file footage of people firing full-atos? The term “assault rifle” was actually coined by none other than Adolph Hilter, “sturmgewehr”, meaning “storm rifle” or “assault rifle”. It was a select fire, magazine-fed, single-man portable carbine that had full-auto capability. This was a unique characteristic at the time, as full-auto machine guns of the period required at least a 2 man crew to port and operate (mostly heavy, belt-fed contraptions). But those with agendas these days can apply the term “assault rifle” to semi-autos that “look scary” while running file footage of full-auto fire from National Guardsmen to get their agenda advanced. As if getting hit by a .30-06 fired from a rifle with a walnut stock is *so much better* than getting hit with a .223 fired from an AR-15. After all, the AR is probalby black. And scary looking.
ThaBigPerm
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:14pm:0p
Report Post »“Adolph”? Heh… how about “Adolf” instead
Tacitus42
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:26pmtxbigfoot you are a fool. Guns are allowed at national parks since Feb 2010. I carry there all the time. The point is it was stated he had an assualt rifle by the authorities. Again an assualt rifle is full auto or three round burst, so i doubt he had one.Just pointing out that the authorities always call any longun with military characteristics an assualt rifle even if it not. As to promote their specfic agencies gun control stance. sorry pal no libs here . opencarry.org
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:33pmyeah, you’re right ThaBigPerm. And if the medai continues, a bow and arrow will be considered an assault stick.
Report Post »But other than that, I’m a tad wary of the story. Ok, so an officer tried to stop him. Why? I don’t want to start a big discussion about questioning every action a police officer makes, but it would seem that the story is already hanging the shooter without a trial. And again don‘t take that statement as something it’s not. I’ve been in law enforcement, and have family still behind the badge. It’s just an observation about the way things are being reported these days. The reader automatically assumes the shooter is an escape murderer or something like that, without knowing the full story–by design
MeteoricLimbo
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:13amAn assault rifle is WMD for gosh sakes! . . Remember in back in 1986 in Stockton CA when the guy crashed the fence in his 69 Chevy pick-up and killed more people with the truck then the “assault riffle”? I have not heard a single complaint about Chevy’s but the “assault rifle” is lethal!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:16amJust a little more info for everyone on the legality of having a firearm in a National Park. As of Feb 2010, you are allowed to possess a gun in a park, if you comply with all the rules, such as keeping it out of visitor centers, keeping it concealed, etc…..the bad part is, one of the rules states that while you can have the gun, it is illegal to discharge it within the park. So, I guess you can indeed protect yourself from criminals while on vacation, however, if you actually use a gun to accomplish that, you are probably going to prison after the fact……..yet another insane law brought to you courtesy of our beloved Federal Government.
Report Post »Tacitus42
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:26pmThere is no gun ban at national parks !!!! I open carry all the time at all national parks i visit. Mt.Rainer included.http://azdailysun.com/news/gun-ban-in-national-parks-lifted/article_b61c88c3-62dc-5a41-b65f-4d38bac9136c.html
Report Post »Tacitus42
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:32pmI even carry a Mossberg 500 pistol grip in a thigh holster at the park ,Just stay out of park buildings you are ok. visit opencarry.org http://voices.yahoo.com/ban-firearms-national-parks-wildlife-refuges-5504615.html
Report Post »ronin_6
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 4:16amIsn’t that both a little big to carry on your thigh and just a little on the paranoid side. I have been hiking and hunting in the Cascades all my life and have never felt the need to be overtly aggressive. Additionaly the definition of an assault rifle is a bit more complex than just ‘full auto or 3 rnd burst’.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:23pmPicture of the perp. http://www.kitsapsun.com/photos/2012/jan/01/261652/
Report Post »He is white and looks like a militia type person or possibly a skin head.
CatB
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:34pmWho is Barnes?
-Barnes was charged with a DUI in 2009
In 2011, Barnes has had two restraining orders filed against him by the mother of his one-year-old child. In November, a court ruled that he could only have two supervised visits a week with his daughter until he completed a domestic violence and mental health investigation.
-The restraining orders indicate that Barnes is National Guard member or Reservist.
-Barnes has been named by an anonymous law enforcement source as a suspect in the Skyway shooting of four people on New Year’s Eve
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:37pm@CoFemale
Half the white guys you see anymore have military haircuts, which is what he has. But as you say he could be militia type or skinhead, but chances are he is just a pathetic loser who is also a murderer now.
Report Post »ShamanWorld
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 7:40amLet‘s here it from the racists who must be shocked and disappointed that it wasn’t a black man. Everything‘s the blackmans’ fault. LOL
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:11pmI am sorry to read a story like this. I can’t understand what the murderer was doing with all that crap in his car and why he was there and stopped in the first place. Details are sketchy so far. The Ranger was a wife and mother, that is what is saddest about this. She died in the line of duty and deserves full honors. I would like the Blaze to follow-up with an address where donations can be sent to the Ranger’s family. Nothing wrong with being a survivalist if that is what you want to do, but there is no reason for this kind of thing to occur. May the Lord grant peace to this family in their time of grief.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:28pmher poor husband is at the park now, he was on duty too when this happened. awful. prayers and always check komonews.com it is the seattle one they tend to put family donation instructions after a few days.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:10pmThis is a tragic situation. She just looks like a person who loved nature and loved her job. May GOD give her soul peace and may he give comfort and support to her family and friends.
National parks used to be places where a family could go and picnic, camp out, hike and just enjoy nature. Lately, parks have become havens for criminals because the Ranger forces are spread so thin. The rangers have so many duties maintaining and preserving the parks aiding campers and stranded motorists and they really don’t have the training to deal with the violent offenders. So much survival training is available that most anyone can survive in a park and may go for years without being spotted.
By the way, what is the suspect’s criminal record? Has he ever been labled as a violent offender? Why isn’t his mug shot being broadcast everywwhere? Why was he armed to the teeth? What was he doing in a National Park in the first place? I hope they take him alive so he can answer these and many other questions.
Again, deepest condolences to th her family and friends.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:04pmR I P Margaret Anderson .
Report Post »Hope they get the murderer asap .
noland
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:00pmYou”d think if shes going to set up a road block, she”d have all her weapons locked and loaded an aimed on the person refusing to abide by the laws. If the suspect refused to stop first time he dosen”t plan on doing so at all May God give her family the peace they need at this time, and the Rangers.
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:27pm@NOLAND
They don’t mention if she was even armed. Some Park Rangers are apparently unarmed. I hope this was not the case with her. That would make it all the more troubling if she wasn’t armed and was asked to setup a roadblock.
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 3:58am@psychopath
Are you really Ron Paul??
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:46pmDisgusting.
Why they tried to pull him over in the first place?
My fat gut instinct kicked in when the article mentioned “weapons, body armor and survivalist gear.” Made to sound like a Tea Partier? Don’t know, just a knee-jerk reaction.
Hope the killer has a long painful death….those kids & dad will have pain forever. This seriously enrages me.
Report Post »Lennon was a closet Republican
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:31pmMy experience is that your average park ranger is an expert on the wilderness and likes people. and is not typically a military type, pretty much the opposite. Yet they have to perform police duties with little nearby back-up — much less than your average cop gets. It‘s probably time to reassess who gets hired into these positions if your ’public’ is now showing up in body armor.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:49pmCouldn’t disagree more. One loon showing up with weapons and body armor hell bent on killing someone hardly requires hiring a military style police force. This is the same knee jerk reaction you get when someone gets into an accident while texting. Now we have to disable cell phones in cars as a result. It’s an overreaction. On top of that the last thing you want to do is give the feds more reason to expand their policing capabilities. They’ll overreach every chance they get.
Report Post »ninja
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:27pmMany really dont know much about wilderness or wildlife except for the tree-hugger crap they are taught. They are trained more about dealing with the regular John Q Public tourist.
God grant her family peace & may the murderer be caught & convicted & prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:58amLikes people. Go on to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Go to a check pont and ask for directions to some place. you will see.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:24pmSeems to me that they’re just working overtime to get the attention off the Fast and Furious mess. All of these tragedies cannot be happenstance – no way, no how! That circle of corruption sure is in full swing.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:31pmWait a minute, I though it wasn’t guns that kill people… it’s people that kill people, right?
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:33pmLay you money it was an illegal mexican. AGAIN
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:37pm@Dealer
Report Post »Could have been an Illeagal Canadian, we all know what happens when they lose Basketball games, get liquored up, and Hockey is on. They just dare you to call them a hoser. Eh.
mrsalvage2
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:59amNo Canadians only burn their own Cities down, unless they move to Michigan and get elected Governor, then they tear down Detroit.
Report Post »LANE131
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:20pmWas it a fast and furious gun used? Or any fast and farious guns found in the car? Does anybody know?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:10pmI thought National Parks were still gun free zones. I know there has been talk of permitting those with CCW to protect themselves, families and others .. but I didn’t think it was law .. as of yet. You mean a BAD PERSON had a weapon in a Naitonal Park??? Imagine that?
So sorry for the families loss of wife and mother and nations loss of a Park Ranger. Rest in Peace.
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:35pmCatb,
Report Post »You can carry in national parks but it has to be concealed (at least the last time I checked about two years ago). Sadly, it wouldn’t have made a difference; murder is illegal and it didn’t stop this guy. If the penalty for murder didn’t stop him from killing, I doubt that the penalty for illegally carrying a gun would have stopped him from carrying it anyway. God bless the ranger and her family, very sad.
rose-ellen
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:00pmWhy is the wilderness called a national park?That itself is government over reaching.As are all the laws and regulations inacted from afar.[washington]pertaining to it.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:29pmno. it is a 24yr old white military guy. we in northern wa wont be seeing fast and furious guns.
Report Post »JustMeHere_01
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:27am@ROSE-ELLEN
Why is the wilderness called a national park?That itself is government over reaching.As are all the laws and regulations inacted from afar.[washington]pertaining to it.
——————————————————————————————————–
Why is the wilderness called a national park? You think it is because the federal government decided to protect a certain amount of our lands for such a cause. You simply amaze me rose-ellen. You seem to find something in everything that you dislike.
I am not sure I agree with all the lands that the Federal Government has taken control of but some of it is good for the preservation of lands that the citizens of these good old USofA can travel and see spetacular sites.
Rose-ellen, reading a lot of your posts then I would assume that you prefer the land be given to the Muslims for some reason or other. The protected parks which you call a wilderness are for the preservation of special lands that people can ventrure into and appreciate the wonders of nature.
I am sorry for even responding to the likes of you but you seem never to lack for finding a cause for your negativity. You love to hate and that is what motivates you I think. Enough said.
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 3:02am@Crazyhorse – no you won’t unless an BATFE/DEA Arms Shipment truck loses GPS and drives by with a load to take down and exchage for drugs, but first has some stock fall off the back in the middle of the road.
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:19pmI hope this is not the new trend for 2012 but i fear it is fbi agent drowns a atf agent is accidentily shot and a forest ranger is murdered by a guy with a car load of guns maybe doing fast and fluuriest selling guns to the canadians strange things happening there is more to this story and i hope it comes out soon .Her family deserves a explanation why wasn’t she warned that the guy was dangerous after the first attempt to stop him?And just think americans aren’t even allowed in some parks on our southern border for their own safety.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:06pmInstead of showing a picture of her, why didn’t they put up a picture of the suspect. It helps if you know who you are looking for.
Hopefully that guy meets up with a Mountain Lion, or a pack of wolves. That would be justice.
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:33pmDisgusting. That family will be forever hurt. I sure hope the killer has a slow painful lingering death. No jail, no snipe shot, just pain.
I also hope this doesn’t get twisted into another anti- Tea or 2nd Ammendment propaganda. Wait, oh, i just woke up…yes it will.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 12:26amHopefully if a hunter gets him first, they have the decency to field dress him first, and if he lives past that, a fair trial.
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on January 2, 2012 at 3:05amFair Trial with no vital Organs.
Ahaa! Ahaa! Ahaa! Boy you crack me up!
Report Post »jake2121
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:02pmI hate to say this….but, you know the officers in that county/FBI will be licking their chops at having the chance to hunt an armed felon in the backwoods. The suspect is outnumbered and surrounded…he’s done. It’s just who will get to him first and gets has the “kill shot”.
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:56pmNo doubt you are correct. You can bet that the FBI has scrambled some serious resources by now.
Report Post »Having said that, however, they aren’t always successful. I rather doubt that there have EVER been the Federal resources used as there were in the search for Eric Rudolph.., all for naught.
1casawizard
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:54pmCriminals are everywhere. They conceal/carry. You have to be on your toes everywhere you go. You can’t help dead but you can help the survivors of her two daughters, 2 and 4.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:51pmAnti-gunners will use this bad deal to help keep the National Park gun ban in place.
Report Post »God bless the victim’s family. That’s really messed up!
CatB
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:18pmThe ban didn’t work did it … Doesn’t stop someone BAD from having a weapon .. only stops the law abiding from protecting themselves and others.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:18pm.Whynot, the law works
Report Post »Don’t it.
americansfightingforcommonsense
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:46pmMay God bless and comfort her family and friends. This man should be hunted down like a dog and put to death if found guilty of the crime.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:49pmHopefully he will choose suicide by cop and save everyone some grief.
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:18pm@Stoic
Report Post »Yeah, I’m guessing that is the way it will play out. The guys looking for him will be using weapons that make pretty nasty holes, and given the fact that he’s a cop-killer/woman killer/mother killer, I’m thinking that unless he just plain gives up and lies down, he as finished as the Christmas turkey. Moreover, It sounds like he was initially equipped for some kind of grand stand. Too bad, for him, that he didn’t manage to get his body armor. On the other hand…, body armor not good protection from .308
americansfightingforcommonsense
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:44pmI agree. Everyone should be trained to handle a firearm and everyone that is not a felon, should have the right to carry the firearm of their choice. Crime will go down because the criminals will be nervous.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:55pmA gun‘s good to carry because a cop’s too heavy.
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:37pmGoes to show you the dangers of criminals are even in our parks systems! Now that they have let out a number of criminals from our prisons, who ever will be safe? Especially if they try to not allow us to carry guns??? I give thanks to the many men and women that have tried to keep us safe! Outlawing guns will not, but understanding where the problems truly exist will!
Report Post »RBSWORLD
Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:57pmAmen Brother/Sister!!
Report Post »