A hunter from Pennsylvania has been arrested on suspicion of criminally negligent homicide after allegedly shooting a bow hunter Friday in the San Juan National Forest northwest of Rico.
Gregory Gabrisch, 31, of Houston, died from a gunshot wound in the area of the Kilpacker Trail off Forest Road 535, according to a Dolores County Sheriff’s Office Facebook posted Saturday at 11:18 a.m.
Ronald J. Morosko, of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, was jailed in the Montezuma County Detention Center on Friday and released Saturday, said Heather Mann, records manager of the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office.
He was scheduled to appear in Dolores Combined Court for arraignment Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
Morosko and another man were black powder rifle hunting when Morosko allegedly shot Gabrisch, who was archery hunting, said Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin on Friday.
The victim, Gabrisch, was not hunting with the other two hunters.
“The incident is currently under investigation with our partners at Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, and San Juan National Forest law enforcement,” Dolores County Sheriff Don Wilson stated in a news release.
Local law enforcement and emergency personnel responded to the incident. They included Rico Search and Rescue, West Fork Volunteer Fire Department, Dolores County Search and Rescue, Dolores County Sheriff’s Office, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, San Juan National Forest and Dolores County coroner.
Support was also provided by Dunton Hot Springs resort, which supplied food and water for crews involved with the recovery of the victim’s body.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
