A 31-year-old Towaoc man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a woman early on the morning of Aug. 12.
Duran Wade Lang, who is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, was also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country.
The shooting came a week after the gun-violence-prevention organization Colorado Ceasefire and other nonprofits offered events on the reservation where people could express concerns about the issue.
In December, a 7-year-old Ute boy was shot to death while in bed in Towaoc. Tribal Chairman Manuel Heart then called for an end to the firing of weapons in Towaoc.
Concern about violence using guns is prevalent statewide. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in 2021 the rate of firearm-related deaths per capita in Colorado was the highest since 1981. Those deaths include homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings.
In a recent post, the Cortez Police Department said, “This Isn't the Movies. Stop Gun Violence.”
The post continues, “Gun violence has become a painful reality in our community. We continue to see lives disrupted due to firearms. Tragic losses, self-harm, teens caught with guns, and threatening behavior that put others at risk have become more common. This isn’t the movies. These are real lives and real families living in Cortez and Montezuma County. Each incident causes a ripple through the community. We’re doing our part to protect, prevent, and respond. Talk to your kids. Watch out for your neighbors. Speak up when something’s wrong. We can all take steps to make Cortez safer. Talk to your kids about the dangers of firearms and the importance of speaking up. Secure your weapons responsibly at home and never leave firearms in your unlocked vehicle. Report threats or suspicious behavior. It could save a life. Text or call 911 if you see or hear something that could lead to violence. Text or call the 988 crisis support line if you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, substance abuse issues, or just feeling overwhelmed.”
According to the affidavit filed in the Aug. 12 death, at about 3:52 a.m. that day, a caller reported to Ute Mountain Ute dispatch that three gunshots had been fired on a Towaoc street.
A half-hour later, a caller reported a white Kia sitting at a four-way stop with a woman inside. A Ute Mountain Ute police officer responded to the vehicle, which had smashed windows. He pulled the unresponsive woman out of the Kia and began CPR, but she was pronounced dead when EMS arrived. She reportedly had a gunshot wound in her shoulder.
Evidence at the scene and a neighbor’s surveillance video led agents with the FBI and BIA to interview Lang, who said a white car showed up at his home around 3:30 a.m. and people inside threatened to bust his windows. He said they left, but then returned, according to the affidavit. Lang said a man left the car, pointed a gun at Lang, who was outside, and shot at him. Lang said he fired at the back of the vehicle with an AR-10 rifle but had no idea he had killed anyone.
