Man accidentally shoots friend in back of head
Larimer County – A 22-year-old Thornton man is facing felony assault and reckless endangerment charges after he accidentally shot a friend in the back of the head with his shotgun Sunday in Larimer County.
Marc Givam also faces a prohibited use of a weapon charge in connection with the shooting, which occurred on Long Draw Road off the Poudre Canyon Highway about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Givam was among a group of six friends who had camped in the area overnight, said Larimer County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Eloise Campanella.
Givam was firing a shotgun, apparently aiming at trees, and was unaware of the location of another member of his party, Sawn Hakes.
Hakes, 23, was shot in the back of the head and was taken to Poudre Valley Hospital by Flight for Life. He was conscious and breathing at the time he was lifted out, Campanella said.
Although deputies believe the incident was an accident, alcohol was a contributing factor, Campanella said.
COMMERCE CITY
Man critically injured when struck by train
A 33-year-old Federal Heights man was listed in critical condition at Denver Health Medical Center on Sunday after he was struck by a Union Pacific train Saturday night.
Jose Castillo suffered severe head, leg and back injuries. Castillo stood on the railroad tracks in the 7100 block of Fairfax Drive as a northbound train approached him about 11:35 p.m. before he was hit, said Commerce City police spokesman Joe Sandoval.
Police aren’t sure why Castillo remained on the railroad tracks, but Sandoval said alcohol is suspected to be involved in the incident.
EL PASO COUNTY
Missing-person quest leads to two bodies
A search for a missing person in El Paso County led to the discovery of two unidentified bodies Saturday.
A private contractor using cadaver dogs discovered the bodies about 30 to 50 feet off of a hiking trail located 1.2 miles north of Forest Service Road 315 in El Paso County, said Sgt. Jim Groth, spokesman for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
The contractor was hired by the Sheriff’s Office to assist searching for a missing person whose car had been discovered in the area three weeks ago, Groth said.
He said there is no evidence that either body is the owner of the abandoned vehicle.
Autopsies are scheduled for today.
DURANGO
Fire suspect’s charge:
13 murder attempts
A man suspected of setting fire to a downtown building that held several apartments has been charged with 13 counts of attempted murder.
Weaver Marc Ponds, 45, also was charged with assault and arson. Because a judge mistakenly told Ponds on Friday that he could face the death penalty if convicted, Ponds was to have another advisement hearing today.
If convicted of attempted murder, Ponds could face eight to 24 years in prison on each count.
The fire burned 24 apartments above El Rancho Tavern on July 29, and firefighters had to rescue eight people.
An arrest affidavit said Ponds allegedly told police and his ex-wife he set the fire.
He was being held in the La Plata County Jail on $500,000 bail.
