From the news release, glad he is safe but really hurts to see how consumed people are with their boundaries.
"A surveyor was on the property line with the group when the shooting happened, but managed to get away safely"
An update to the story...they caught the guy 5 1/2 hours away in New Mexico. Thankfully.
Whoa.
Close call.
I have not seen any news story that mentions the land surveyor. The shooter was not a land owner, but was staying at the Herbal Gardens Wellness as a caregiver to his girlfriend. She witnessed the shooting and was in his vehicle when he was arrested New Mexico yesterday.
Here is an investigative report by KOAA, a local TV station regarding the longstanding land dispute.
The shooter's mugshot is scary as hell.
>The shooter was not a land owner
Say what? Makes no sense if the root cause was a boundary dispute as reported.
I realize we all say things like, "I can't believe...", or "I don't understand why people get so upset over property boundaries", and the comments are more of a reaction than an attempt at insight. However, one of the numerous lectures I give my party chiefs goes something like:
There have been innumerable wars fought over boundaries. Assume that clients and abutters are like most humans throughout history, willing to die over an inch of ground. Be surprised when people find amicable solutions to boundary disputes.
It doesn't make any sense even if he were a land owner.
Also, maybe the guy didn't try to kill the surveyor since he wasn't one of the owners.
Easements are very powerful. The average citizen has no comprehension of the power of them. Yet, people gladly sign them routinely in order to accomplish some immediate goal or necessity.
The above account includes the names and ages of the victims.
The following account says the surveyor ran a half-mile to get away from the scene. No name for the surveyor is provided.
Westcliffe is a fiesty neighborhood, as even the newspapers are battling with each other.
https://coloradosun.com/2023/10/03/westcliffe-colorado-newspaper-war/
Oh, my! I will not provide a link to the story of more dissension in the general vicinity of Westcliffe. The headlines tend to use terms that politically correct media no longer use. Simply search for Tenacious Unicorn Ranch. Oh, my!
