Shooting Suspect Fled

GLENWOOD SPRINGS - A ranch hand working in the country illegally is suspected of fatally shooting a Qwest executive May 14 and then fleeing to Mexico, Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said Thursday.

Vallario said he doesn't believe the ranch hand knew he was shooting at Jeff Garrett, who was turkey hunting and heavily camouflaged, but the man apparently realized he had done so and fled the same morning.

He worked at Bear Wallow Ranch, about five miles northwest of Glenwood Springs. A Colorado Bureau of Investigation analysis confirmed that a rifle from the ranch was the firearm that killed Garrett, the sheriff said.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. -- Authorities said Thursday that they have a suspect in the recent shooting death of Qwest Communications executive Jeff Garrett.

"We have recovered the weapon, we have a witness, and we have a suspect," said Lou Vallario, the Garfield County Sheriff.

Vallario told reporters Thursday afternoon that investigators believe a Mexican national -- who has since reportedly fled to Mexico -- is responsible for the May 14 fatal shooting.

The suspect's name was not released.

Garrett died after being shot in the upper right chest while turkey hunting with two friends.

The shooting happened in the East Elk Creek area, north of New Castle, Colo. Garrett died on Bureau of Land Management property around 8,000 feet in elevation. Both friends were cleared in the shooting.

Vallario says the shooting suspect worked at the Bear Wallow Ranch just outside New Castle, near the area where Garrett was shot. A woman who answered the phone at the ranch said she was not aware of the case and declined comment.

Investigators said a co-worker of the suspect witnessed the shooting, and told them that the suspect knew what he had done before leaving the country. The co-worker reportedly told investigators that he was with the suspect when they heard turkey calls coming from heavy brush near the ranch perimeter and that the suspect fired in the direction of the calls, thinking they came from a turkey.

Garrett was dressed in full camouflage. Turkey hunters aren't required to wear blaze orange because turkeys have sharp eyesight and must be called to within shotgun range.

While only shotguns are allowed in the spring turkey hunt, Garrett was shot with a .22-caliber rifle.

The shooting is being treated as a homicide.

Garrett was an Aurora resident and worked as Qwest's assistant vice president for Colorado and a state lobbyist for the company. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, and children Olivia, 3, and Adam, 1.

Charlotte attended Thursday's news conference in Glenwood Springs and said her husband's death was "devastating."

"Jeff was a thoughtful husband, a proud father, a loving son, a protective brother and, to many people, a funny and caring friend," she said.

U.S. Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) issued a statement in response to Thursday's news conference naming a Mexican national as the suspect in the shooting.

"It is shameful that illegal aliens can so easily cross our porous borders or overstay their visas with such impunity. It is tragic that an illegal alien can commit a murder in this country and evade American justice by slipping back across the border," his statement said in part.

Another Mexican national has been charged in the May 8 slaying of a Denver police officer and was arrested after fleeing to Mexico. Raul Gomez-Garcia is also accused of wounding a second police officer in the same shooting. The Denver District Attorney's Office is attempting to extradite Gomez-Garcia to face trial in Colorado.

Mr Illegal Alien was just out to poach some wild life.

Using a rifle that would be illegal, no license to hunt, no hunters certificate (I am postulating on that point), he breaks a fundamental rule and just shoots in the direction of the noise.

Then retreats to Mexico, the safe haven for all felons who have committed offenses against mere US citizens.

He remains in Mexico with about 5000 other Mexicans who have committed felonies here in the US. This is the second killing of a Coloradoan reported in the past 30 days.

But the Bush Administration steadfastly refuses to enforce the law. He continues to abandon the American Citizen and his oath of office. It is indefensable.

I am convinced that Bush' real plan for Social Security is to show everyone there is no political will to fix it but that it can be stretched by his 20 million illegals if we can just see our way to making them legal.

Actually, probably not.

I recently read of another murder case involving an American victim and flight to Mexico where the Mexican authorities were refusing extradite the Mexican murder suspect unless the Unites States legal authorities promised that he would 1) not be subject to the death penalty and (in a new twist) 2) not be subject to a sentence of life in prision without the possibility of parole (or an equivalently long sentence).

Apparently these are penalties not available in Mexico and since the Mexican government considers our international border "a flexible concept" why shouldn't Mexican standards apply in El Norte?

He remains in Mexico with about 5000 other Mexicans who have committed felonies here in the US. This is the second killing of a Coloradoan reported in the past 30 days.

But the Bush Administration steadfastly refuses to enforce the law. He continues to abandon the American Citizen and his oath of office. It is indefensible.

This kind of rhetoric serves no purpose at all. Do you think George W. can just throw some magical switch and the immigration problem will just go away? There are countless reasons the whole damn government is dragging their feet on this issue, yet you just want W. to close the borders and appease you. It is not that simple and you know it! The only people I hear bitching are average every day Americans. We elect these political hacks into DC. They are supposed to do our bidding, yet they are all turning their backs on this issue. Blaming this solely on the current executive branch is ignoring the fact that all of government is responsible. This crap started a long time ago at least thru 3 previous administrations. Why do you think it is proper to single out W?

How many congress critters do you know that are focusing on illegal immigration. One of my Senators here in Idaho tried to introduce a bill to start dealing with the problem and got shot down. I admit the pres should do something to get things started but he is not the person that deserves your wrath. What does your congressmen and senators have to say, anything? What sort of opinions have you received from them? Have you nailed them on it, or do you just stamp your feet and scream "it's Bush's fault"?

When it comes down to it, the people's elected officials have to write the laws for the president to sign. I don't see anything coming out of DC except petty bickering. If we want to do something about illegal immigration we have to start at the grass roots level. Nothing will happen as long as all we do is sit around and cuss at Bush for not doing something that clearly needs to start in both houses in DC.

Bush is not perfect by any means, but you have to admit he has a hell of a lot on his plate and has done a pretty good job considering what this country has gone thru in the last 8 years.

All politicians look at immigrants as potential voters to keep them at the public trough. When it comes down to it, they don't want to offend any group that has the potential to sway a campaign that will keep them in power. As long as that mindset exists, I seriously doubt any of us are going to be satisfied with immigration, legal or illegal.

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