Police: Body Found At Wash. Park Is That Of Gunman

Published January 2, 2012 10:36PM (EST)

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — Authorities have confirmed Monday afternoon that a body found on the slopes of Mount Rainier National Park was that of an Iraq War veteran suspected in the slaying of a park ranger.

Benjamin Colton Barnes, 24, is believed to have fled to the remote park to hide after an earlier shooting at a New Year's house party near Seattle that wounded four, two critically. Authorities believe he shot ranger Margaret Anderson later Sunday.

Fear that tourists could be caught in the crossfire in a shootout with Barnes, who had survivalist training, prompted officials to hold more than a 100 people at the visitors' center before evacuating them in the middle of the night.


By Salon Staff

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