Editor’s note: the following is a press release issued by the National Park Service
Mount Rainier National Park is reopening to the public on Saturday, January
7, following the tragic fatal shooting of Park Ranger Margaret Anderson.
The park family is using the time to begin the recovery process in the
aftermath of the horrific events leading up to and following the loss of
Ranger Anderson. All services with the exception of snow play will be
available this weekend.
Plans for a memorial service next week are underway with the date to be
determined. The family is requesting donations to the Margaret Anderson
Fund at Key Bank in lieu of flowers.
On the morning of January 1 Park Ranger Margaret Anderson set up a traffic
block to intercept a vehicle that failed to stop at a chain-up checkpoint.
The driver opened fire on Ranger Anderson, killing her, and then fled on
foot into the woods. Margaret Anderson, 34, worked at Mount Rainier for 3
years. She is survived by her husband Eric, also a ranger in the park, and
two young children.
Mount Rainier National Park closed during the hunt for the gunman, with the
park evacuating park visitors to get them out of potential danger. There
were 125 visitors in lock down at the Paradise Visitor Center from Sunday
noon until 3:30 a.m. Monday. They were escorted out of the park in small
groups of five vehicles, escorted by law enforcement officers. There were
also 25 visitors at the National Park Inn at Longmire who were evacuated
out of the park. Visitors had been held at these locations for their own
safety.
The intensive search came to an end on Monday, January 2. An aircraft
spotted a body lying face down in the vicinity of Narada Falls. Searchers
on the ground traversed challenging terrain to reach the subject and
confirmed his identity as Benjamin Colton Barnes, the suspect in the
shooting. Officials confirm that Barnes was found dead.
An investigation into the incident is being led by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation with Park Rangers and Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
assisting. The NPS Western Incident Management Team is assisting the park
with planning a memorial service for Ranger Anderson and with ongoing park
needs.
Approximately 250 personnel were involved in search operations. Agencies
participating in the search effort include Pierce County Sheriff’s
Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tacoma Police Department,
Washington State Patrol, Customs & Border Patrol, Department of Homeland
Security, U.S. Forest Service, Pierce County Fire Districts, Lewis County
Sheriff’s Department, Enumclaw PD, Portland PD, Seattle PD, Snohomish PD,
National Park Service rangers, and law enforcement officers from other
jurisdictions as well. Resources included K-9 Units, armored vehicles,
helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
