National Park Rangers Patrol some of the most remote parts of our country where backup can be a long ways off.

Ranger Margaret Anderson made the ultimate sacrifice earlier today while on patrol in Mount Rainier National Park when trying to stop a vehicle that had failed to yield to another ranger. Ranger Anderson had set up a roadblock to stop the vehicle when she was fatally shot. Early reports state that the shooter approached the roadblock and exited his vehicle with a gun shooting the ranger and then escaping into the woods. Additional rangers and deputies arriving on the scene were also fired upon with what is reported as a suspect with a “assault rifle”.

Ranger Anderson

The park has been closed and a manhunt is currently being conducted. Visitors in the park have been asked to leave because this is a very dangerous situation. Some news reports say that people attempting to leave the park have been fired upon as well and armored vehicles are being brought in to help evacuate the public.

The vehicle the suspect was driving belongs to Benjamin Colton Barnes

Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer says 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes is believed to have military experience and possess skills to survive in the wild.

Seattle PI

Benjamin Colton Barnes The Person of Interest in the killing of National Park Ranger Anderson


Barnes is also a person of interest in a shooting earlier in the day….

A man who is a person of interest in the shooting death of a park ranger Sunday morning near Mt. Rainier is also a suspect in a shooting that left four wounded in Skyway earlier in the day, sources tell KOMO News.

Detectives are looking for Benjamin Colton Barnes, a 24-year-old believed to have military experience and survivalist skills, officials said.

Investigators have recovered Barnes’ car which was filled with weapons and body armor, along with survivalist gear, said Det. Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff’s

KOMO News

This is a tragic situation for sure and I’m sure as time goes on will know more about what exactly happened. Our thought and prayers certainly go out to the Anderson family that just lost mother and wife as well as her co workers and friends. Additionally we pray for a quick and safe resolution to this man hunt.

The multiple news stories with references to the change of law in 2010 that allows people to carry firearms in National Parks I will not address at this time. I don’t see it as relevant to this story especially if it turns out prior felonies were committed prior to this tragic encounter.

Tonight my prayers are with two little girls who’ll never have their Mom tuck them into bed, tell them a story, or bake their favorite cookies.

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