WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2026 |
Photo – Carbon County Sheriff’s Office sign – Bigfoot99 file photo
Sheriff Alex Bakken provided more information about the Baggs shooting.
On Monday, June 8th, an unnamed suspect opened fire on Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Zach Burns with a semi-automatic rifle while he was responding to a call in Baggs. Sergeant Burns was shot multiple times, including in the neck, arm, and hip.
Speaking during Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Bakken called the incident one of the most traumatic events in the history of the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. He said another one of his deputies killed the shooter. Though it was a life‑altering event for the unnamed deputy, the sheriff said he was grateful for how the incident ended.
Sheriff Bakken said the actions of Sergeant Burns and the unnamed deputy almost certainly saved lives, adding that the suspect had over 1,000 AR-15 magazines in his apartment. He said the suspect appeared intent on killing until the responding deputies intervened.
Sheriff Bakken said his department received overwhelming support from the community and law enforcement agencies across the state. He credited Baggs residents for saving Sergeant Burns’s life.
Sergeant Burns was airlifted to a Grand Junction, Colorado, hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. Sheriff Bakken said during that time, the community and local law enforcement ensured that the Burns family was well cared for.
Sheriff Bakken said he is assigning a deputy to stand vigil over Sergeant Burns during his recovery.
Despite the severity of the incident, the sheriff expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported Sergeant Burns and his family during this difficult time.
An account was created on the crowdfunding website SpotFund to support the Burns family. As of this report, 415 donors contributed more than $50,000 to the effort.
