A Colorado guy who pleaded guilty to shooting a Rocky Mountain National Park ranger throughout a gunfight last year was sentenced to more than 23 years in federal jail Friday, federal districtattorneys stated.
Daron Marquel Ellis, 29, of Aurora, accepted a plea contract after opening fire at park law enforcement ranger Mitchell Hauptman on Dec. 8, 2021, near the park’s Fall River entryway.
He was sentenced to 23½ years in federal jail on a second degree attempted murder charge of a federal officer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
The shooting tookplace after Ellie ranaway from a Colorado State Patrol cannonfodder on Dec. 8 on U.S. Highway 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon, authorities stated. Hauptman was notified the lorry may be heading towards the park.
Hauptman saw a car matching the suspect’s description near the park’s entryway and turned on his lights, however Ellis drove around the ranger’s car on the shoulder of the roadway, authorities at the time stated. The automobile stopped after striking numerous stones simply within the park’s borders.
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Hauptman got out of his lorry, pulled his handgun, bought Ellis and a woman traveler out of the vehicle and to program their hands, authorities stated. Officials state Ellis did not get out of the lorry and rather started shooting at Hauptman using a 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
A bullet struck Hauptman, who was taking cover behind his automobile. He was hit in the upper-left side of his chest however was using a safeguard