A retired police officer took down an armed carjacker in rural Colorado earlier this month using not one, but two AR-15 rifles.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office shared the full press release on Facebook,
On July 2, 2018, 28-year-old Austin Benson stole a car and drove into the mountains of Douglas County, Colorado. At some point he pulled over and began firing randomly at passing cars.
“The first victim told deputies that a white male between 20 and 30 years old flagged down their car as they passed. He was standing next to a Mazda with one flat tire,” according to local news station KRDO.
At least two other victims made similar reports to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office before Benson drove further into the park.
Benson’s shooting spree came to a violent end when he targeted the camper of Wesley Mattox, a retired police officer from Russellville, Alabama. The 51-year-old retiree had been camping with his wife in the Pike National Forest when Benson entered their campsite and started yelling.
Benson pointed a rifle at Mattox and demanded the retiree “get him water” and mentioned that “the law was after him.” Mattox ccalmly returned to his camper, provided his wife with a handgun and told her to “take cover.” He then picked up an AR-15 rifle and took a position behind Benson’s stolen Mazda hatchback.
Mattox says he ordered Benson to drop his firearm, but the armed gunman swung his rifle around and began firing while attempting to drive away. Mattox returned fire began moving away from his camper, hoping to draw Benson’s attention away from his wife.
Benson suffered multiple gunshot wounds and crashed his car into a tree before firing an additional two shots. Out of ammunition, Mattox returned to his camper where he retrieved a second AR-15. He watched Benson’s stolen car, but did not observe any movement.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on the scene a few minutes later. Benson had been shot “several times” in his face and arms. Benson was arrested and charged wth six counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated robbery. Neither Mattox nor his wife were injured.
Benson’s motive is still unknown. He was arrested back in 2008 in Denver for possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing a police officer. Learn more in the video below.
