Report: Suspect in Skyway Shooting Linked To Shooting of Rainier Ranger

KOMO 4 News is reporting that the suspect wanted in an early morning shooting in Skyway is now a person of interest in the shooting death of Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson.

According to the King County Sheriffs Office, four people were shot at a house party in the 6200 block of S 117th Place in the Skyway area west of Renton just before 3 a.m. New Years Day.

The suspected Skyway shooter KOMO is identifying is 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes was asked to leave the party earlier after a dispute. The suspect returned later and opened fire injuring four.

KOMO is also reporting Barnes is the person of interest in the shooting death of Park Service Ranger Margaret Anderson. The shooting occurred before 10:30 Sunday near the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park when another ranger had unsuccessfully tried to pull the man over during a routine traffic stop. Anderson set up a road block with her vehicle in the middle of the road, said park spokeswoman Lee Taylor. The man pulled up to Anderson about 11 a.m., jumped out, fired and ran off, she said.

Pierce County Sheriffs Spokesperson Ed Troyer said when authorities arrived they were also shot at, but no one else was hit. About 150 officers, including officials from the Washington State Patrol, U.S. Forest Service and FBI, were on the mountain searching for the suspect.

For more on that see this story from The News Tribune.

King County Sheriffs Office responded to the Skyway residence after receiving a 911 call and discovered three men and one woman had been shot. Skyway, Renton and Tukwila fire departments responded along with King County Medic One to treated those with injuries.

The sheriffs Office said the victims, all in their 20s, were transported to Harborview Hospital. Two are reported to be in critical condition.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.