June 14th, 2020 – MY KIDS ALMOST GOT SHOT!

So here I am taking pictures of my fresh mermaid hair after finally getting it cut and colored back to my natural color when I hear the whooshing sound of BULLETS flying through the air and into the hillside directly where my kids are playing. At first, I’m not sure if I’m seeing what I’m seeing and hearing what I’m hearing until it happens again— whirling whooshing air and the sound of bullets entering the dirt of our mountain side. I instantly drop and yell for my boys to “get down!!!” But at age 3 and 6, all they can do is run toward me. I get them inside and call my husband who I know is hiking with friends at the bottom of our land, right where the shots are fired. He doesn’t answer… are they okay? I call 911 and report the shooting when finally my husband calls me and I learn they are all okay. The shots were fired directly over their heads and the bullets landed up where we live. Luckily, they were able to get some evidence from the bullets and a description of the vehicle as my husband took off and chased them on our 4 wheeler for a while. Later, police were able to catch the dangerous shooters who also happened to be DRUNK and MILITARY from FORT CARSON . Unfortunately, our report did not result in any charges or arrests (not enough evidence for reckless endangerment). But even so, I’m hoping just getting caught, and getting lectured from the police about nearly shooting 6 people, including children, mothers, fathers and an expectant mother—would be enough to sober them up and NOT shoot out their car window while driving in private neighborhoods again!! Just because you can’t see people or residences when you see “private property” signs doesn’t mean they are not there!! Nature is not a shooting range!! Let me say it again, NATURE IS NOT A SHOOTING RANGE!!! If anyone needs to shoot into private land so desperately, BUY YOUR OWN LAND, hire a construction crew to build you your own road, then do what you want. But do not do this on roads or land you do not own!!! We have now been forced to buy even more cameras, invest in high powered solar lights and even more signs (maybe if there are lights over the signs people will respect private property more ) and eventually we’ll also be building a privacy fence or a WALL!!! (Walls are supposed to work, right???) And again, it just might be time to turn Old Stage into a RESIDENT or PERMIT ONLY (permit for access to the National Forest) road!!! No permit, no access!!! But at least my hair looks good, right??

Comments:

Amber SmithGorgeous photos but OMG!! so glad everyone is ok, how scary!
Sylvia DizonThank God you guys are ok. I cannot imagine. Lack of evidence??? Your eyewitness account and the bullets didn’t suffice? It’s be going to the Magistrate’s office, the district attorney’s office. That could have been your child gunned down in front of you.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Sylvia Dizon I KNOW!! The bullets found did not match what they found in the car—-they could have had multiple guns—maybe they threw the matching gun somewhere but based on that, they said it wasn’t enough.
- Sylvia Dizon Rachel McCash Cronin that puts my stomach in knots. I’d definitely be doing exactly what you’re doing. I’m so sorry
Ashley SmithExpectant mother glad everyone is ok!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Ashley Smith our friend is 8 months pregnant No baby for us!!
Erin Elizabeth GreenfieldCall the base commander on Monday. That’s how you get it dealt with.
- Jessica Kish Erin Elizabeth Greenfield yes!
- Diana ERI was about to suggest the same thing!
- Kayla Lee Erin Elizabeth Greenfield yup this is what I was going to suggest too. If they were drunk they should have at least been given DUI. But I’d be calling the base.
- Kim MacLurgyep everything is dealt with through the military in cases like this
- Michael T Hoover Erin Elizabeth GreenfieldAfter explaining to the base commander what happened, I would kindly request if he could come out to your land where it happened so they can get a real visual of the situation… He may have knowledge and suggestions on how to mark, sign or camera surveillance the area seeing as military base properties and anywhere around them are probably signed and surveillanced pretty well.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Erin Elizabeth Greenfield yes for sure! We are requesting the full police report so we will have all the info needed to go to Ft Carson!
Evelyn ElvegaardYou guys were surrounded by angels for sure … so glad you’re all ok
Annie BleierOMG! So sorry. That’s insane. Call the base commander at Ft. Carson. And the public affairs office at Ft Carson. Ask them to put out a base wide message that what could happen is they couldn’t murder a person in your family, and be charged with involu… See More
- Amanda StilesYes this^
- Rachel McCash Cronin Annie Bleier we absolutely will!! The police were hesitant on a lot of the details—we are requesting the full police report and will be going to Ft Carson!!
Jasmin LaguerreWow! Glad you and your family are ok
Azil AFavWhat a fucking nightmare!!!!
Kate FrancisOh my gosh how scary!! Glad you are all okay. And yes, your hair is beautiful!
Leesa JenelleOh my god, I’m so glad you guys are okay!!!! So, someone had to actually be shot to press charges?! Wtf? Reckless shooting isn’t an illegal activity??? What if they shot a child? What then??? Let me guess….they’re military so “it’s different for them”….If they were black civilians shooting up your mountain, bet they would be in jail…or even worse. Evidence or not. I’m sorry you had to experience this. I would have lost my mind.
Lauren Hazelwoodnot even a DUI?! omg how awful glad you’re all okay!
Calesha CurleeHoly shit I’m so glad this didn’t turn out badly.
Marlina Soto glad you guys are all ok mama..I would of lost my shit
Ashley AllenThis infuriates me, I am so happy you, and your family and friends are all okay! I hope they get a punishment
Deborah Trem WilliamsOMG! I am so glad you are ALL ok! So scary!!
Kim MacLurgMy nightmare! There are signs around our land that say no hunting in the area, but this is definitely a worry! Glad you’re all okay
Adrianne ReyesThat’s so scary! Glad you guys are ok. Hair looks great
Britt ChristensenDid you say.. expectant mother?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Britt Christensen haha yes! Our friend hiking with us that day is 8 months pregnant—no baby for us right now
- Britt Christensen Rachel McCash Cronin omg! Haha I was like wow! Congrats lol. I’m so sorry that happened to you though
Britt ChristensenThat is seriously so scary. As a mom terrifying and then just feeling so mouth anger that someone could be so stupid ! What a bunch of idiots. So sorry
Nicole RogersSo glad you all are ok!!
Rhianna KellyWe had a neighbor do this yesterday high into our trees. It’s scary.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Rhianna Profreedom it is!!! Glad you guys are safe too!
- Rhianna Kelly Rachel McCash Cronin we’re thinking of moving for more acreage
Mary Martha DonaldsonThis makes me so angry for you! I remember when I was younger my grandfather had the same issue with 900 acres that he owned. Unfortunately even when he put up a locked/gates fence around the property people still found a way to get on it and hunt. I’m sorry this happened to you!
Jace LeRoyThe 4 Rules of responsible gun ownership are as follows: #1 Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.… See More
- Rachel McCash Cronin Jace LeRoy exactly!! And I KNOW the military teaches this!!
Linda McLaughlinSo drunk driving is against the law!!!!Just saying…
Emily Dodds McKinneyAhhhhh! That’s so scary! I’m glad you caught them and that everyone is ok.
Heidi LynnOn a beautiful note, I am so happy you are safe and your loved ones are to AND your hair is on point
Taylor StokesNot enough evidence? That sounds like a load of bs. I’d hire a lawyer! Yikes
Brittany Preston MoffatYour hair does indeed look gorgeous!! And wait… are you the expectant mother?!!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Brittany Preston Moffat haha no! Our friend is 8 months pregnant and down at the bottom of our land when shots were fired
- Rachel McCash Cronin Brittany Preston Moffat and thank you!! It’s that thrive life!!
Amanda StilesAbsolutely ridiculous that they weren’t charged!
Linda Griffith BeckDid you say expectant mother??? Congratulations
Rachel McCash CroninLinda Griffith Beck haha not me! Our friend hiking with us is 8 months pregnant! We are considering a #3 but not until our house is built
- Linda Griffith Beck Rachel McCash Cronin well I knew you were considering so that’s why I was like, what wait? That’s exciting for her and for you in the future!
Cassi MarieThey will get charges from command
- Rachel McCash Cronin Cassi Marie I’m hoping so!!!
Michael T HooverHopefully the signs you get allow people to know that people live there!I was thinking also more of the most effective signage at the spots where people are attracted to shooting from!
Rachel McCash CroninMichael T Hoover yes I ordered 53 signs. I’m hoping that will be enough for 35 acres of signs. I’m hoping shooters won’t start using them for target practice though—all of the “no shooting” signs have been shot up here. I’m mixing the ones I ordered with “caution children” signs so hopefully people will take them seriously!
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash CroninAlso another thought popped in my head that if there was a way to clear a small area leaving the tallest tree and erecting or attaching a large U.S. flag from in so that you see a flag waving on your property, from the spots people are shooting from… Not sure if I explained what I was thinking properly, but I hope so.
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash Cronin what do the signs you ordered say?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Michael T Hoover yes that makes sense! We may have to do things like that—we’ll see. These are the signs:
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash CroninI never I seen one like that before! looks good! Whatever it takes to be safe! Is your property surrounded by public wilderness or private land?
- Rachel McCash CroninPrivate land on 4 sides— the top peak of our mountain backs to national forest though. We never have issues with the National Forest border— only the county road that cuts through the private lots. There is one more 35 acre lot next to us and after that is National Forest—so somewhat close—takes about a 15 minute drive to get to the public land from our place
- Rachel McCash Cronin Michael T Hoover also got a few of these ones too
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash CroninAny ideas why people are so attracted to shooting into these private tracts of land?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Michael T Hoover honestly—laziness and low IQ. Which is why I’ve been thinking about how to make the public road a “permit only” road. It would detract those people. If you had to go downtown to an administrative building and apply for and then purchase a permit (maybe $50 ish??) before gaining access to a road—chances are you’ll also take the time to drive to the designated shooting areas too Which take about an hour to drive to—our land only takes 15 minutes to get to
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash CroninOh okay! And do they have adequate existing signs saying no shooting along this road?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Michael T Hoover the county has only posted one sign on the road saying shooting prohibited and the National Forest has one sign saying no shooting as well. So 2 total signs… not enough. Not sure how far away ft Carson is…. maybe 40 minutes ish?? It’s an hour down the road to get to the shooting ranges—so they should have dedicated at least an hour and 40 minutes—maybe more. Or just do an in town or on base shooting range
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash CroninDefinitely more signs and ones that say people live here!
- Michael T HooverIn my area I think it’s the road commission that cover signs…
Kenneth McDadeGlad you all are okay
Stephanie BurninghamHoly crap! So glad you guys are all ok!
Lacey MaclellanThat’s scary! I’m so happy that you are all ok.
Stephanie VictoriaHoly shit. So glad you are all ok!
Benjamin Sant100% agreed. So many recreational shooters head into the woods and think they can fire in any direction. Every bullet that exits a firearm is the shooter’s responsibility. Find an approved range, or an area that has visibility and scout the down range for the miles the bullet can travel. These folks being from Ft. Carson have received training and know better. Hard to believe charges weren’t filed.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Benjamin Sant we dropped the for the body cam footage and full police report today—hopefully we will be able to prosecute through the military base instead real soon! In the meantime , 53 new signs are going up! We are determined to get justice on this one
Laura FestinSo glad everyone is okay. That’s so scary.
Nancy FairbrotherHair raising – pun intended. I’m happy that everyone is okay.