A tragic shooting on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Colorado claimed the life of 7-year-old Zamias Lang, who was struck by gunfire while lying in bed next to his father. The shooting, which left 24 bullet holes in the home, has led to the arrest of Jeremiah Hight, who is now facing federal charges.
Deadly Attack Targets Family Home
The shooting occurred just after midnight at the family’s home in Towaoc, Colorado, on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. According to court documents unsealed Thursday, Zamias was on the right side of the bed when gunfire erupted, with his father, Zackieus Lang, lying on the left.
Zackieus told investigators he heard the barrage of bullets and immediately saw his son struggling in pain. Investigators recovered 24 bullet casings from an assault-style rifle near the scene, corroborating surveillance footage showing a person firing at the home.
Suspect Apprehended After Multi-State Search
Jeremiah Hight, the man charged in the shooting, was captured on Tuesday on a remote mesa west of Oljato, Utah, by a joint effort from the Navajo Police Department’s dog team and the Bureau of Indian Affairs drug enforcement division. Authorities had been searching for Hight for several days before his arrest.
The FBI, which has jurisdiction over major crimes on the reservation, had announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to Hight’s arrest. He was found approximately 110 miles from the site of the fatal shooting.
Possible Motive and Investigation Findings
While the FBI has not confirmed a motive, an individual who was drinking with Hight before the shooting told agents that Hight expressed intentions to “shoot up Zackieus Lang’s house.”
Hight appeared briefly in federal court in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Thursday. He did not contest his identity as the suspect in Zamias Lang’s death and is set to be extradited to Colorado.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Hight faces multiple federal charges, including second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country, and using a firearm during a violent crime.
