Mount Rainier Reopens Nearly a Week After Fatal Shooting - East Idaho News
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Mount Rainier Reopens Nearly a Week After Fatal Shooting

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GETTY N 010312 MtRainier?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1325959213914Purestock/Getty Images(SEATTLE) — On Saturday, Mount Rainier National Park reopened six days after the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old ranger.

Margaret Anderson was killed on New Year’s Day by Iraqi war-veteran 24-year-old Benjamin Barnes, when she pursued him after he drove through a park checkpoint. Barnes fled and was later found dead in a creek from an apparent drowning.

Recordings of the 911 calls from the incident showing the difficulty police and rangers had with communication were released on Friday.  Authorities took more than an hour to arrive at the scene because of icy road conditions and spotty cell phone service.

The 368 square-mile park reopened with certain sections off-limits to visitors because of wintry weather.

Park officials are designating an area where mourners can bring flowers to salute Anderson.

A memorial service for Anderson is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, park officials said. Anderson is survived by her husband and two children.

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