NPS Ranger Murdered in Mt Rainer NP
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:51 pm
On January 1, 2012, Margaret Anderson, 34, was murdered by a motorist they were trying to stop. Her husband is also a NPS ranger in the park. She has two children ages 2 and 4. Ranger Anderson worked as a Law Enforcement Ranger. She was also an EMT and participated in SAR.
Another Ranger had stopped the vehicle at 11:11. The motorist then drove off. Ranger Anderson setup a roadblock further down the road. When the motorist came to the roadblock, he took a long rifle and shot her minutes later. He then fled on foot into the wood. The NPS has closed the park at 11:30, and retained all hikers in a lodge while they hunt for the killer.
The Killer is still loose and on foot in Mt Rainer NP. The killer has been identified as Benjamin Colton Barnes, age 24. He has military experience and survival experience. They have brought in 150 officers and ranger to locate Mr Barnes. There are still about 100 hikers in the park who are unaware of the incident.
Ranger Margaret Anderson
Update (1/2): Mr Barnes family has reported that Benjamin Barnes suffers from PTSD and is suicidal. Early on Sunday morning he had shot four other people at a New Year's Day party. He is considered highly unstable emotionally. He has been suffering from sudden burst of anger. The mother of his child sought a restraining order against him.
He had come to the checkpoint (checking for tire chains). It is at this point he drove through the checkpoint. Two rangers gave chase, including Ranger Margaret Anderson. It is reported that Mr Barnes shot Ranger Anderson before she got out of the vehicle.
It is reported that 150 police (State police, Rangers, and FBI) have been chasing him on snowshoes. He has intentionally been walking through the streams, which has made tracking him more difficult.
Another Ranger had stopped the vehicle at 11:11. The motorist then drove off. Ranger Anderson setup a roadblock further down the road. When the motorist came to the roadblock, he took a long rifle and shot her minutes later. He then fled on foot into the wood. The NPS has closed the park at 11:30, and retained all hikers in a lodge while they hunt for the killer.
The Killer is still loose and on foot in Mt Rainer NP. The killer has been identified as Benjamin Colton Barnes, age 24. He has military experience and survival experience. They have brought in 150 officers and ranger to locate Mr Barnes. There are still about 100 hikers in the park who are unaware of the incident.
Ranger Margaret Anderson
Update (1/2): Mr Barnes family has reported that Benjamin Barnes suffers from PTSD and is suicidal. Early on Sunday morning he had shot four other people at a New Year's Day party. He is considered highly unstable emotionally. He has been suffering from sudden burst of anger. The mother of his child sought a restraining order against him.
He had come to the checkpoint (checking for tire chains). It is at this point he drove through the checkpoint. Two rangers gave chase, including Ranger Margaret Anderson. It is reported that Mr Barnes shot Ranger Anderson before she got out of the vehicle.
It is reported that 150 police (State police, Rangers, and FBI) have been chasing him on snowshoes. He has intentionally been walking through the streams, which has made tracking him more difficult.