A Sweetwater County Sheriff’s deputy fired a duty weapon during a disturbance involving an armed person early Monday, and “preliminary findings” indicate the armed person “was struck,” the sheriff’s office reports.
Deputies responded at about 4:10 a.m. to the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex in the 2100 block of Century Blvd in Rock Springs to help the Rock Sprins Police Department with a reported disturbance involving an armed person, says the sheriff’s office statement, dispatched about five hours later.
Dispatch related initially that the person had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound before officers and deputies arrived, says the statement.
The statement does not say whether the reported self-shooter was male or female, adult or juvenile.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), which is investigating the deputy-involved shooting, declined Monday to ask a series of emailed questions.
DCI Commander Ryan Cox said many of Cowboy State Daily's questions "could only be answered from the completed investigation." The questions included whether the subject was male, female, adult, or juvenile, what factors were in play, whether the subject threatened anyone or fired a weapon, and if a reported traffic incident was connected.
Gunshot Wound
Officers and deputies arrived at the complex to find an armed person on the exterior balcony of an upstairs apartment “who appeared to have a gunshot wound consistent with the initial report to dispatch,” says the sheriff’s office statement.
The statement doesn’t say where on the person’s body the gunshot wound was.
“During the encounter, a Sweetwater County sheriff’s deputy discharged a duty weapon,” the statement says. “Preliminary findings indicate the individual was struck.”
Emergency medical personnel rendered aid at the scene and transported the person, who was in critical condition, to a hospital, the statement says. It adds that no law enforcement officers or local residents were hurt during the incident.
In accordance with sheriff’s office policy and standard procedure, says the statement, the involved deputy has been placed on administrative leave.
Woke To Gunshots
Varick Dittman woke to gunshots sometime between 4:10 and 4:20 a.m. Monday, he told Cowboy State Daily in a phone interview hours later.
“I woke up to at least one gunshot, along with a car crash,” said Dittman, adding that someone struck his roommate’s truck.
Dittman noted that he and his roommate, Cayden Aragon, live in a building near the one where the shooting happened.
“I just watched outside my window and watched one guy be told to put his hands in the air and ‘walk slowly back toward us,’” said Dittman. “And then they sent out — an ambulance came and wheeled one guy off.”
Dittman confirmed that the person told to put his hands in the air was not the same as the person taken by the ambulance.
Police blocked off the scene, and Dittman said he had to leave for work shortly after.
Aragon in his own interview confirmed that someone struck his truck, though he said he didn’t know who did it or if the incidents were connected, and he’s hoping for more information.
Aragon woke after the shooting happened, around 5:06 a.m., he said.
“I fell asleep on the couch; I was looking out my balcony window,” he said. His door was open and he could hear some of the words officers said.
“I heard they evacuated the third floor” of the other building, said Aragon. He also recalled seeing drones and a SWAT team response.
At 6:30 a.m., Aragon went to leave for work and found the damage to his truck, he said.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information is available.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
