The Bailey man accused of shooting three Park County deputies this week, one of them fatally, was wielding a .45-caliber rifle , investigators said Friday.
Susan Medina, spokeswoman for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, said the gunman used a MasterPiece Arms rifle.
Martin Wirth, an Occupy Denver activist who had several run-ins with law enforcement over the years, bought the rifle legally from a private seller in 2012, Medina said.
Officials are working to determine how many rounds were fired in the Wednesday shootout, explaining that evidence in the case is still being examined.
Wirth, 58, shot the deputies Wednesday morning as the county sheriff’s office was trying to evict him from his modest home in the snow-covered woods. He to keep his home, but last week an eviction writ was issued.
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The shootout left Cpl. Nate Carrigan, , dead. Wirth also died in the encounter.
Master Patrol Deputy Kolby Martin, an 11-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was shot multiple times and was last listed in fair condition at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood. His family has asked for privacy.
Capt. Mark Hancock, a 21-year veteran of the office, was treated and released. CBI, which is investigating the shootout, said it has cleared the scene after spending nearly three days at Wirth’s home gathering evidence.
Eleventh Judicial District Attorney Thom Ledoux says he will analyze the case as if it were any other officer-involved shooting in order to determine if there was any criminal wrongdoing on the part of the sheriff’s office.
Ledoux and CBI Director Michael Rankin visited the scene at 36 Iris Drive on Thursday.
Park County authorities have not yet announced when services for Carrigan will be held.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
