June 16th 2026 |
Photo: Paint the Town Blue Event Poster
Carbon County is rallying around the sheriff’s deputy injured in a Baggs shooting.
On Monday, June 8th, Carbon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Zach Burns was shot while responding to an emergency call in Baggs. Sergeant Burns was hit in the neck, arm, and hip by rounds fired from a semi‑automatic rifle. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police later that day.
Sergeant Burns is recovering in a Colorado hospital and, as of the last update, he remains in critical, but improving condition.
Shortly after the incident, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office created a benefit fund at Bank of Commerce to support the injured deputy and his family. An account was also launched on the crowdfunding website SpotFund to collect donations. As of this report, more than 400 donors contributed $49,000 to the online campaign alone.
In Rawlins, Bank of Commerce Marketing Director Nicole Murry wanted to ensure that Sergeant Burns, his family, and all law enforcement officers know that they have the support of the entire county. In response, Murry started the Paint the Town Blue campaign to have Carbon County residents display blue ribbons or lights on their homes and businesses.
In a written statement to Bigfoot99 and Bandit102, Murry stated that, “By splashing blue across our towns and neighborhoods, we are keeping Zach’s recovery and the sacrifices made by law enforcement at the forefront of our minds. It is a visible reminder that we’re behind him and all of them every step of the way.”
When asked why she started the Paint the Town Blue campaign, Murry wrote that coming together to support our own is what Wyoming does best. She added that Carbon County is filled with really good people who show up for one another when it matters most, and this is one of those times.
As part of the support campaign, Murry and Amber Waldron of Saratoga began selling blue‑colored ribbons and light bulbs, with the money collected going to the Burns family. Murry wrote that the response was incredible. As of Friday afternoon, she and Waldron had taken orders for 100 bows and nearly 200 blue light bulbs and had volunteers in each town ready to deliver the items to supporters.
Murry added that while the funds will be donated to the Burns family, the Paint the Town Blue campaign was never intended to be a major fundraiser. Instead, she wrote that it’s another opportunity for our communities to come together and show support for one of our own.
Even if residents don’t contribute to her Paint the Town Blue campaign, Murry asked them to switch their home light systems to blue, paint storefront windows, wrap ribbons around trees, or show their solidarity in other ways. She stated that the Rawlins Downtown Development Authority changed the city’s illuminated light poles to blue to kick off the effort, and that seeing the heart of downtown lit in blue as a sign of support is striking.
Yesterday morning, Murry informed Bigfoot99 and Bandit102 that, due to the overwhelmingly positive response, the online order form for light bulbs and ribbons has been taken down to ensure all existing requests can be filled.
On Saturday evening, Sheriff Alex Bakken took to social media to thank everyone for their assistance, including the law enforcement officers and first responders from across the region who helped during the shooting. Sheriff Bakken also wrote that the support they have received in Colorado has been nothing short of amazing, with food, lodging, clothing, and companionship provided around the clock by the local community and surrounding law enforcement agencies.
The sheriff added that Sergeant Burns and his family remain in everyone’s thoughts and prayers as he continues to fight through his injuries, and noted that it is hard to fully express what this outpouring of support means to them.
A link to Sergeant Burns’s SpotFund account can be found in this story on Bigfoot99.com. In‑person donations can be made at either the Rawlins or Saratoga Bank of Commerce branches.
Mail‑in donations should be addressed to Bank of Commerce at PO Box 50 in Rawlins, 82301, with “Attention to Benefit for Zach Burns and Family” written on the envelope.
