A Laramie gun shop owner called police Sunday following the ambush shooting in Highlands Ranch to report Matthew Riehl purchased nine guns and two gun receivers including a Plum Crazy AR-15 receiver with a magazine that can hold 100 rounds, a Laramie Police report says.
Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock has said that Riehl fired around 100 bullets at deputies and police early New Year’s Eve morning, killing Deputy Zackari Parrish and wounding four law enforcement officers and two neighbors. No information has been released about the guns Riehl used in the shooting.
At 8:30 p.m. Sunday David Smith, the owner of Dave’s Guns, called the Laramie Wyoming Police Department in reference to the shooting earlier that day. Smith told the officer that he recognized Riehl as an old customer.
Smith dug through his records of firearm sales and found records of Riehl’s purchases. Officers went to the store at 855 N. Fifth St. in Larimer, according to a police report.
Smith told police that Riehl sent him an email on Nov. 11, 2017, four years after the last sale, that included a large image of a Wyoming Territorial Prison souvenir badge. The subject line on the email said “the feared.” There was nothing else on the email and Smith did not know why Riehl sent it, the police report says.
Riehl also sent the same email to eight other people.
Smith explained that he had done gun checks each of the 11 times he sold a gun to Riehl. He called police because he thought the information might help investigators.
Smith declined to comment Thursday to the Denver Post other than to say that he recognized Riehl from media reports about the shooting.
“With an ongoing investigation we are not going to comment out of respect to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department,” Smith said.
Riehl was able to purchase the guns legally after passing background checks because they came before he was admitted to a Veteran’s Hospital in 2014, .
According to the police report, the following weapons were purchased:
April 2, 2010 : Springfield XD(M) semi-automatic handgun.
May 3, 2010: Ruger MK III pistol semi-automatic handgun.
July 6, 2010: Smith & Wesson 629 revolver handgun.
July 22, 2010: Ruger SR9c handgun.
Nov. 3, 2010: Plum Crazy AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with magazine capacity for 100 bullets.
Nov. 19, 2010: FAL Type III semi-automatic receiver.
Feb. 1, 2011: Remington 700 SPS rifle.
Nov. 6, 2011: Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver handgun.
Aug. 5, 2011: Ruger Vaquero revolver handgun.
Aug. 10, 2012: Glock 30 SF semi-automatic handgun.
March 3, 2013: Ithaca 37 shotgun.
Riehl was bipolar and had a manic breakdown during the summer, according to a University of Wyoming Police Department report. Family and friends were trying to help get help for him in the weeks leading up to the shooting.
Provided by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Douglas County Deputy and former Castle Rock Police Department Officer Zackari Parrish, fatally wounded on December 31, 2017 at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Four other officers and 3 civilians were wounded.
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Douglas County Deputy and former Castle Rock Police Department Officer Zackari Parrish, fatally wounded on December 31, 2017 at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his family. Four other officers and 3 civilians were wounded.
Provided by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Doyle, 28, was wounded in the shooting.
Provided by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Pelle, 32, was wounded in the shooting.
Provided by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Taylor Davis, 30, was wounded in the shooting.
Provided by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Castle Rock Police Department SWAT Officer Thomas O’Donnell, 41, was wounded in the shooting.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Police officers line up their patrol cars outside of Littleton Adventist Hospital for a procession honoring an officer who was fatally wounded in a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Police officers line up their patrol cars outside of Littleton Adventist Hospital for a procession honoring an officer who was fatally wounded in a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31st 2017. Four other police officers and 2 civilians were wounded.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Police officers line up their patrol cars outside of Littleton Adventist Hospital for a procession honoring an officer who was fatally wounded in a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31st 2017. Four other police officers and 2 civilians were wounded.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A procession of police officers and a hearse make their way down the highway outside of Littleton Adventist Hospital honoring an officer who was fatally wounded in a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. Four other police officers and 2 civilians were wounded.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Police officers line up their patrol cars outside of Littleton Adventist Hospital for a procession honoring an officer who was fatally wounded in a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31st 2017. Four other police officers and 2 civilians were wounded.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Emergency personal and police officers at Littleton Adventist Hospital following a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31st 2017 that fatally wounded one police officer and wounded four other officers and two civilians.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
The scene from the parking lot of an area AMF Bowling Alley as multiple deputies are down in Douglas County on Sunday, December 31, 2017.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
Police officers investigate the scene of an alleged ambush where one deputy was killed and four other wounded along with two civilians at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
Police officers investigate the scene of an alleged ambush where one deputy was killed and four other wounded along with two civilians at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
Police officers investigate the scene of an alleged ambush where one deputy was killed and four other wounded along with two civilians at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
Police officers investigate the scene of an alleged ambush where one deputy was killed and four other wounded along with two civilians at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
Police officers investigate the scene of an alleged ambush where one deputy was killed and four other wounded along with two civilians at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
Police officers investigate the scene of an alleged ambush where one deputy was killed and four other wounded along with two civilians at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex. Dec. 31, 2017 in Denver.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex. Dec. 31, 2017 in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A tow truck driver secures the suspect's vehicle to his truck as police continue to investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A tow truck driver secures the suspect's vehicle to his truck as police continue to investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Sheriff deputies put up police tape around the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Sheriff deputies put up police tape around the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Sheriff deputies put up police tape around the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Provided by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
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Douglas County Deputy and former Castle Rock Police Department Officer Zackari Parrish, fatally wounded on December 31, 2017 at the Copper Canyon Apartment complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Four other officers and 3 civilians were wounded.
