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Man reports being shot at in South Routt County

Routt County Sheriff's Office investigating Tuesday incident

Matt Stensland

— The Routt County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday spent several hours looking for a man who reportedly fired two shots toward another man and his dog outside a home in the southern part of the county.

Sheriff Garrett Wiggins said the gunshots hit the ground near the man’s deck in South Routt County.

“He looked up and saw an individual in the woods line,” Wiggins said. “When he saw the man, he took off running with a gun.”



The man at his home was carrying a firearm with a concealed weapons permit, Wiggins said, and he chased after the man and fired “numerous rounds.”

Wiggins said the incident occurred on Filly Trail in the Stagecoach area on Routt County Road 16 headed toward Lynx Pass. The area is wooded and has homes spread out along rural county roads.



Wiggins would not release the name of the man who reportedly had been shot at, citing an ongoing investigation. He did not know what kind of guns were suspected as being used.

After the initial incident, deputies spent several hours searching for the man or signs that he had been hit.

“They didn’t come up with anything that would give us leads as to the suspect,” Wiggins said.

Investigators are returning to the area Wednesday to look for shell casings.

It is estimated the men were between 50 and 75 yards away from each other when the initial shots were fired.

“That’s not an accidental ricochet or something like that,” Wiggins said. “Obviously, there is some sort of criminal intent.”

Wiggins told deputies that the man who reported being shot at told deputies he had an altercation with two men Monday who he said looked suspicious and he found trespassing on a neighbor’s property.

“He questioned them, and they chewed him out,” Wiggins said.

The men reportedly said they were looking for firewood.

Wiggins said the South Routt man was pretty upset and shaken up after the incident.

“It was a very strange incident,” Wiggins said.

— To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247 or email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com


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