Two victims involved in a shooting Thursday night near Ignacio were recovering from their injuries Friday, according to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, which is investigating the case.
The tribe refused to identify the victims or name a suspect. The tribe also declined to disclose details of the event, including a possible motive.
The shooting was reported about 8:30 p.m. Thursday by employees at Mercy Regional Medical Center, where the victims were dropped off with gunshot wounds, according to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, which is assisting the investigation.
One of the victims was treated and released, and the other was in serious condition as of Friday afternoon, said Lindsay Box, communications specialist for the tribe.
Authorities have identified at least one person as a “person of interest” in the case, but no names will be released to preserve the investigation, Box said.
Mercy spokesman David Bruzzese said the hospital’s emergency department issued “controlled access procedures” for about one hour after the incident, meaning additional security was on hand.
The FBI, Southern Ute Police Department and La Plata County Sheriff’s Office are working the case together, Box said. The shooting occurred within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian reservation, she said.
“(The agencies are) working very hard at putting the pieces of this puzzle together,” she said, adding that more information will be made available at a later date.
mrupani@durangoherald.com