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Alma man shot by neighbor who later shot himself

A resident was shot in this neighborhood on Saturday, Sept. 26, around 4 p.m. just south of Alma up Mosquito Gulch. According to the Park County Sheriff's Office, the suspected shooter later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hospital personnel told deputies the man who was shot, 61-year-old Philip Houghton, was seriously injured but in stable condition. Deputies believe the shooting was a result of an ongoing dispute and are seeking more information.
Alli Langley / alangley@summitdaily.com |

An Alma resident was shot by a neighbor after an ongoing dispute, according to the Park County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shooting at 350 Willow Lane in Mosquito Gulch just south of Alma.

Philip Houghton, 61, told law enforcement officers that a neighbor wearing camouflage clothing shot him and said the suspected shooter then ran away through the woods.



Alma and Fairplay police moved Houghton to medical personnel staged nearby.

Meanwhile, sheriff’s deputies searched for the shooter, and the Park County Communications Center notified residents to stay in their homes.



Undersheriff Monte Gore established a perimeter around the home of the suspect, who was then seen running across County Road 19 near its intersection with Highway 9.

Deputies moved to search that area, and Sheriff Fred Wegener found the suspect alive but unresponsive with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The suspect was flown to a Denver metro area hospital where he died.

The sheriff’s office had not yet released his name Sunday afternoon pending notification of his family.

Houghton also was taken to a metro area hospital, and personnel there said he was in critical but stable condition, Gore said Sunday.

The South Park Ambulance District and North-West Fire Protection District also responded to the incident.

Anyone with more information about this case should call Park County Sheriff’s Office undersheriff Monte Gore at (719) 836-4102.


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