A 56-year-old Meeker man wanted on arrest warrants shot himself in the chest and died after he was pulled over by a state trooper in Rio Blanco County on Wednesday, authorities said today.
Robert Harold Rawson was wanted on domestic violence, assault and driving while under restraint as a habitual offender. He also was free on bond from an earlier felony drunken-driving charge, according to the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office.
The reason he was pulled over was not released, but the Sheriff’s Office issued a statement today that Rawson shot himself with a short-barrel shotgun within seconds after being pulling over on Colorado 13 and Rio Blanco County Road 5 at 5:07 p.m.
Despite life-saving efforts by the trooper, two deputies and other rescue personnel, Rawson died, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation will assist the Sheriff’s Office with an investigation.
Rawson’s arrest record includes charges of theft, trespassing, impersonation, obstructing a police officer, and disruption of public peace and order with an obscene word or gesture.
