Press Release: Arrest Made in Fatal Shooting of 7-Year-Old Boy on Colorado Tribal Reservation
Authorities have apprehended a suspect in the tragic shooting death of 7-year-old Zamias Lang on a tribal reservation in Colorado. The FBI announced that 23-year-old Jeremiah Hight was arrested near Monument Valley, Utah, in connection with the incident that occurred on December 11 at a residence in Towaoc, located on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation.
Hight faces multiple charges, including murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. The FBI has not disclosed a motive for the shooting, and further details surrounding the incident remain under wraps, as Hight’s arrest warrant has been sealed. The FBI’s wanted poster indicated that the shooting was directed at a specific residence.
Zamias Lang was identified as the victim by Montezuma County coroner George Deavers. An online fundraising campaign launched to cover funeral expenses described Lang as a “bright and loving” child, whose untimely death has deeply impacted the community.
In response to the shooting, tribal chairman Manuel Heart condemned the act as “senseless” and emphasized the importance of allowing law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation, urging community members to refrain from retaliation. He also announced intentions to propose resolutions aimed at increasing police presence on the reservation and implementing a ban on gunfire within the reservation’s communities of Towaoc and White Mesa, Utah.
“We are not going to have any more of these types of events where somebody gets shot,” Heart stated, underlining the community’s desire for safety and peace.
This case continues to develop, and authorities are committed to ensuring justice for the young victim. The Associated Press contributed information to this report.