Slain Park County Deputy Had Vest, Shot Through Armpit
By Brian Maass
FAIRPLAY, Colo. (CBS4)- A Park County sheriff's deputy shot and killed in February during a high-risk eviction was wearing a Kevlar vest, but was hit by a bullet that went through his left arm pit according to officials familiar with what occurred February 24.
Corporal Nate Carrigan died during the eviction of Park County resident Martin Wirth. Two other deputies were also shot but both survived. Wirth was killed in the shootout with deputies.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney are both investigating what happened but neither has released their reports and law enforcement officials have said little about how Carrigan died.
But CBS4 has learned additional details of what led to the death of Carrigan. He was one of seven or eight deputies involved in the high-risk eviction of Wirth. Wirth initially came out of his home and spoke to at least one deputy before he retreated back inside. It was decided to go in after Wirth and Carrigan was the first deputy through Wirth's door.
Carrigan was hit by gunfire from a .45 carbine and was dragged away from the doorway by other deputies. First responders made a quick decision to first assist another deputy injured in the gunfire. When they turned their attention back to Carrigan, they cut off Carrigan's Kevlar vest. But there was little that could be done and Carrigan died within minutes of being shot.
Officials describe Wirth's home as having firewood stacked outside. Inside they found a broom, mops and tools.
Rich Gabrisch, a neighbor of Wirth's, told the Fairplay Flume newspaper that Wirth had made numerous threats if they tried to apprehend him or remove him from the property. According to the newspaper, Gabrisch called the Park County Sheriff's Office about six weeks prior to the eviction to warn the department about the threats Wirth had been making.
"He didn't care. He believed life was treating him rotten; everyone was out to get him. He wanted to die. I think he wanted suicide by cops, too," Gabrisch told the Flume.
Gabrisch is quoted as saying when he warned the Park County Sheriff's office about Wirth's threats, the officer he spoke with "said they would watch Wirth and be careful."
CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.
