Residents in the Baggs of Carbon County area were ordered to shelter in place Monday afternoon as law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired and searched for what authorities described as an "active assailant."
At about 1:50 p.m., residents received an emergency alert that read: "Active assailant in Baggs area. Please shelter in place."
Details about the incident remained scarce Monday afternoon as multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the small south-central Wyoming community near the Colorado border.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Aaron Brown said that troopers were responding to a report of shots fired in the area.
"None of the troopers have been injured," Brown said, although it’s not known if any other law enforcement responders have been injured.
Brown declined to provide additional details, saying the incident is under the jurisdiction of the Carbon County Sheriff's Office.
“There is a heavy law enforcement presence, and we are asking the public to please avoid Highway 789 between I-80 and Baggs,” according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
'It's Not Good'
Baggs Mayor Matthew Howell also confirmed an active situation was unfolding, but said he was unable to discuss specifics.
"I wish I could say more, but there is an active situation — and it's not good," Howell said.
After a brief pause during the interview, Howell added, "I'm actually being told to leave right now."
The response appeared to draw law enforcement resources from across Carbon County.
Rawlins resident Raymond Moses said he observed numerous law enforcement vehicles heading toward Baggs.
"They cleared all on-duty police officers in Rawlins and looked like all of the sheriff and highway patrol that was on duty," Moses said. "I got back to Rawlins and seen all the law enforcement heading that way."
Cowboy State Daily has not independently verified the number of officers involved in the response or if anyone has been hurt.
As of Monday afternoon, authorities had not released information about possible injuries, a suspect description or the circumstances surrounding the reported gunfire.
Cowboy State Daily has reached out to the Carbon County Sheriff's Office and Carbon County Emergency Management seeking additional information about the reported shooting and active assailant alert. Neither agency had responded to requests for comment as of publication.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Kolby Fedore can be reached at kolby@cowboystatedaily.com.
