Carbon County Deputy Shot On Duty Continues Recovery

A Carbon County Sheriff's Deputy who was shot following a traffic stop in Baggs earlier this month is 'steadily improving' as he continues his recovery from the incident.

That's according to a post on Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken's Facebook page updating the public on Sergeant Zach Burns,

According to the post "We are excited and extremely grateful to report that Zach is continuing to recover and his condition is steadily improving. He has received excellent medical care and an unprecedented amount of support from the local community."

Burns was shot on June 8. The incident started when the sheriff's office got a report of a man with a gun in the small town of Baggs, near the Colorado state line.

Sergeant Burns was in the area and responded after getting a description of the suspect vehicle. He soon saw the vehicle and performed a traffic stop in front of a small apartment complex.

Suspect Came Out Firing With A Semi-Automatic Rifle

But as soon as he stopped his car, the suspect got out and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle. Sergeant Burns was wounded in the  neck, arm, and hip. The suspect then set fire to the apartment  complex on fire and drove away northbound on Highway 789.

The suspect was killed in a shootout with deputies after fleeing scene where Burns was shot.