Saturday morning in Montrose turned into a rolling crime scene, as police say a 42-year-old part-time Gillette resident drove into town, opened fire on motorists and a pedestrian, then died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot after crashing into a downtown burger joint. A 22-year-old man was hit by gunfire and taken to the hospital in stable condition, and officers later found the suspected gunman inside his vehicle at the crash site. The chaos stretched across multiple locations in the city over roughly 35 minutes.
Timeline and scenes
Police say the first calls came in around 10:16 a.m., when multiple witnesses reported a green Honda with Wyoming plates heading into Montrose on U.S. Highway 50 and firing at vehicles. The sedan was reportedly weaving through traffic and passing cars before pulling alongside a pedestrian on the 200 block of North San Juan Avenue, where the driver allegedly fired through the passenger-side window.
Officers later identified the driver as Eduardo Garcia Barrera, 42. According to investigators, Barrera then continued into downtown, where he crashed into Crash Burger in the 600 block of East Main Street. He was found inside the vehicle with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police say he had purchased a 9mm handgun and a box of ammunition the day before, and that the entire sequence of shootings and the crash spanned about 35 minutes, according to KKCO.
What police are saying
Montrose Police Chief Blaine Hall told the Montrose Daily Press that “the risk to public safety was high” as shots rang out at scattered locations around town. Police say they have not found any clear connection between Barrera and Montrose, and investigators are still interviewing family members and victims as part of an active investigation. Officers credited quick-thinking bystanders who stepped in to help the wounded pedestrian with emergency aid until first responders arrived, as reported by Cowboy State Daily.
Scene closures and how to help
As detectives worked the case, police temporarily shut down the 200 block of North San Juan Avenue and the area around Crash Burger to process shell casings, damaged vehicles, and the crash site. Local outlets reported that the restaurant was closed during the investigation. Authorities say there is currently no known ongoing threat to the public, but they are urging anyone with information, dashcam footage, or other video from the affected areas to contact Montrose police. Coverage of the blocked streets and brief closure was provided by regional outlets, including KJCT.
Investigation status
The Montrose Police Department says the case remains very much active, and additional details will be released as they are confirmed. Per KKCO, investigators have asked anyone who saw any part of the shootings or knows anything about Barrera’s actions leading up to the incident to call the department.
