Utah State Parks Ranger Brody Young is in critical condition after he was shot three times while performing regular patrols around the Poison Spider Mesa Trail area. He stopped a vehicle at the trailhead on Friday evening and shots were fired by both parties.
Young was able to call in for medical assistance via radio but the shooter drove away before help arrived. While the ranger is recovering from shots to the stomach, arm, and leg, a group of officers is on the hunt to find the man who fired the shots. A core group of 20 officers took strategic positions throughout the canyon along the Colorado River. The focus is on the canyon area because the shooters car (a Pontiac Grand Am) was found about 8 miles southwest from the site of the shooting.
During the day this weekend, even more officers joined the manhunt, but so far nothing but a torn, bloody t-shirt, backpack, and rifle have been found. However, this gives the officers hope that they will find the shooter (if the shooter is wounded, he could not have gone far). Bloodhounds were going to be brought in to assist in tracking down the shooter.
At this point, it is unknown why the ranger was shot at. Colleagues, family, and friends are confused as to what could have set the shooter off, as Young is known to have an “upbeat and social” attitude and is “friendly to everyone,” according to Young’s stepmother.
Read more about the story on NPR.com.
