CASPER — The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting Saturday night at an unincorporated camping area at Alcova Reservoir that sent two Colorado people to the hospital.
NCSO spokesperson Kiera Hett said deputies were called about 10:30 p.m. to an area between Black Beach Campground and Cottonwood Campground on Kortes Road on the southeast side of the reservoir for a report of shots fired.
When they arrived, deputies found a male and a female, both in their 20s, who had sustained gunshot wounds to their legs. A Casper man, also in his 20s, had fired the shots, Hett said.
“The situation was quickly contained and deputies determined there was no ongoing threat to the public in the area,” Hett said.
Hett said there had been an apparent confrontation between the Colorado man and the Casper man after an argument among campers about the Colorado man attempting to drive his vehicle while intoxicated.
The intoxicated Colorado man allegedly pointed a rifle in the direction of the Casper man.
"In response, the other male fired his handgun,” Hett said. “As a result, the male with the rifle and a female bystander each sustained a single gunshot wound to the leg. Both were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.”
The shooter was initially detained for questioning and later released, Hett said. Deputies have spoken with all the people involved and the case remains under investigation.
Hett said the male shooting victim was released from the hospital Monday and as of midday Monday the female had not been discharged.
Hett said she did not know how many shots overall were fired during the incident.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
