Search in Wash. for park ranger's killer

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. -- A Mount Rainier National Park ranger was fatally shot following a New Year's Day traffic stop, and the 368-square-mile park was closed as dozens of officers searched for an armed gunman over snowy and rugged terrain.

Benjamin Colton Barnes, 24, believed to have military experience and survivalist skills, was a "strong person of interest" in the slaying of Ranger Margaret Anderson, 34, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said late Sunday afternoon.

Authorities recovered Barnes' vehicle, which had weapons and body armor inside, Troyer said.

A representative for the park said about 125 people were still at the visitor's center last night along with five law enforcement officers protecting the facility. He said crews had considered removing them in armored vehicles, but decided not to take any risk.

KOMO-TV reported that Barnes was also a suspect in an early-morning shooting at a New Year's house party in Skyway, south of Seattle, that left four people injured, two critically.

At Mount Rainier about 10:20 a.m. Sunday, a park service employee had unsuccessfully tried to pull a man over during a routine traffic stop. Anderson set up a roadblock with her vehicle, park spokeswoman Lee Taylor said. The man pulled up to Anderson about 11 a.m., jumped out, fired and ran off, she said.

Troyer said when authorities arrived, they were also shot at, but no one else was hit. About 150 officers, including officials from the Washington State Patrol, U.S. Forest Service and FBI, were on the mountain.

Authorities said earlier that Anderson's body had been removed from the park, but Troyer said police have been unable to get to her.

Park superintendent Randy King said Anderson is a mother of two young daughters. Her husband also is a ranger at the park.