THURSDAY, July 23, 2026|
Photo – Burns Family – Courtesy CCSO
Sergeant Zach Burns received a hero’s welcome as he returned to Carbon County.
Yesterday afternoon, residents gathered on the streets of Rawlins to welcome Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Zach Burns home after his stay in a Colorado hospital. Sergeant Burns was critically injured in early June when he was ambushed while responding to a call in Baggs. The perpetrator shot the deputy multiple times with a semi‑automatic rifle, striking him in the neck, arm, and hip.
Sergeant Burns was airlifted to a Colorado hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. Law enforcement officers from across the area stood watch over Sergeant Burns as he recovered. After nearly a month and a half, he was released from the hospital and returned home to Carbon County yesterday.
Almost immediately after the shooting, the community began fundraising for the Burns family. A Rawlins National Bank account was opened in the injured officer’s name for community donations. In addition, an online fundraising campaign was created on the crowdfunding website Spotfund, where, as of yesterday afternoon, 463 donors had contributed $60,810.
A procession of emergency vehicles escorted Sergeant Burns and his family back to Rawlins. Sheriff Alex Bakken encouraged residents to line the streets and welcome him home. By 1:40 yesterday afternoon, the motorcade had reached the Wyoming state line, and roughly two hours later, it entered the city limits.
Sheriff Bakken thanked the public for their support of the Burns family and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. He wrote on social media, “We are incredibly grateful for this day.”
