Shooting suspect dies

Gunshot kills man sought in wounding of Colorado trooper

David Montero And Ellen Miller, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 26, 2006 at midnight

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GLENWOOD SPRINGS - A Parachute man suspected of wounding a state trooper in a traffic stop late Tuesday died of a gunshot wound Wednesday night at a law enforcement checkpoint south of Interstate 70 in Garfield County, authorities said.

According to Tanny McGinnis, spokeswoman for the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, Steven Joseph Appl, 33, "tried to get out of the area, which was being heavily searched, when there was a shot fired, but it's our information that no shot was fired by law enforcement. The suspect is deceased."

The state trooper, Brian Koch, 38, of Glenwood Springs, was in good condition Wednesday night after surgery on his shattered arm at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction.

McGinnis said a vehicle carrying Appl and a woman approached the checkpoint sometime after dark Wednesday and was stopped by officers.

"CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) is out there, but we can't say if it's a suicide or how he died until they do their investigation," McGinnis said.

She said the woman with Appl was being interviewed by officers, and the investigation was continuing into the shooting of Koch.

How Appl eluded the massive manhunt that began early Wednesday and included checkpoints on county roads and Interstate 70 was unknown.

"We have no idea where he's been," McGinnis said.

A wintry storm hit the area Wednesday around 6 p.m., with hard-driving rain and sleet that turned to snow in brisk winds.

Appl had been the subject of a massive search involving the Garfield County Sheriff's Office and the State Patrol. The search was also given helicopter support from the Colorado National Guard based in Eagle.

In addition to the wound in his arm, Koch was shot twice in the chest, but was wearing a bulletproof vest that likely saved his life, Patrol Capt. Richard Duran said.

"Two bullets in the chest, he wouldn't be with us," Duran said.

He said Koch made a traffic stop of Appl on Garfield County Road 331, known as the Rifle-Silt Road, about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, but Duran wouldn't disclose the reason. That road runs parallel to Interstate 70.

"There was an altercation outside his car and there was gunfire," Duran said.

Appl then took off in his blue Chevrolet Cobalt, but it went off Dry Hollow Road about three miles away. The car had Arizona plates on it.

A records search, however, showed Appl with a residence in Parachute.

According to court records, Appl had previously been arrested for drug possession and illegally racing vehicles.

Duran said Koch did fire his weapon, but he wouldn't say how many times.

It was unknown if the patrol car was equipped with a dashboard camera.

Koch called the patrol's dispatch center in Craig, and an ambulance arrived to take him to Grand River Hospital in Rifle. From there, he was flown by helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction.

Roadblocks on Interstate 70 were put in place Wednesday morning, but were lifted by early evening. The roadblocks on local roads remained in place.

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5236

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