By Matt Lit.
This story was updated 8/03/2024 at 4:24 p.m.
Aug. 3, 2024–Crestone-Baca–A Saguache County Sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a suspect July 25 on Camino Baca Grande, near the Baca Fire Station.
On July 29, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect as 40-year-old Jonathan Wood, of the Baca.
The deputy’s body camera footage, released by the Sheriff’s Office Aug. 2, showed him approach Wood, who was walking southeast along the road. The deputy attempted to talk to Wood. Wood was carrying bundles on a 4-foot piece of copper plumbing pipe. While the deputy addressed Wood, Wood brought the pipe from his shoulder, letting the bundles slip to the ground.
Wood took a stance with the pipe, holding it horizontally in both hands in front of his body. The deputy said “relax” and “put down the stick.” Wood then slipped off his backpack while backing away from the deputy. The deputy asked for Wood’s identification and name. Wood responded, “Michael,” and continued, “I’m not who you’re looking for.”
Immediately after making the statement, Wood rushed toward the deputy with the pipe. Hands and arms outstretched, the deputy did not have his weapon drawn at this moment. Wood struck the deputy with the pipe, with the sound of the strike clearly audible. The deputy — backing away — continued to tell Wood to “put the stick down.” Wood lunged again and struck the deputy three more times. After the third strike the deputy said to Wood “put the stick down. I’ll (expletive) shoot you. I swear to God.” Wood struck him a fourth time. The deputy then fired two shots, which struck Wood.
The deputy immediately began tending to Wood’s wounds.
The shooting came after the deputy was attempting to serve an active warrant to Wood, on July 25.
The CBI is assisting the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office into the investigation of the fatal shooting. The sheriff’s department did not release the deputies name with the footage.