Man reports shooting in Wolcott

EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado – Police say a man claims to have been shot Friday in Wolcott, Colorado.

At 5:41 p.m. on Friday, Michael Maher told authorities that shots were fired in Wolcott, said Shannon Cordingly, a spokeswoman for the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office. She said Maher called the Eagle County jail to report the shooting and was transferred to 911.

At first, Maher said he had been shot by two men, Cordingly said. He later changed his story and said he shot himself, she said. As of about 9:30 p.m., Maher had been claiming a friend shot him, Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Alex Iacovetto said.

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Although Maher claims to have been shot in Wolcott, police found him sitting inside his silver Toyota Tundra in the parking lot outside vin48 in Avon, Colorado. Maher had a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen, Iacovetto said. He was taken to the Vail Valley Medical Center, where Cordingly said he was “awake and oriented.” The hospital referred questions about Maher’s condition to a public relations person who did not immediately respond to a page.

Iacovetto said it was unclear how many times Maher had been shot. As of about 9:30 p.m., police said they were still searching for the weapon.

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Maher had been on work release Friday from the Eagle County jail, Cordingly said. The jail released Maher at 7:45 a.m. and he was expected back at 7:45 p.m., she said. He works at Rich’s Auto Body in Avon, Cordingly said. She did not have information available about Maher’s age or residence.

Avon Police and the Sheriff’s Office responded.

Several patrons at nearby Loaded Joe’s said they saw the commotion in the parking lot.

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Avon resident Toni Clifton, 26, said he saw a shirtless man get out of the pickup truck. The man was limping, Clifton said.

“He stepped out of the car, took about six steps and fell down,” Clifton said.

Staff Writer Sarah Mausolf can be reached at 970-748-2928 or smausolf@vaildaily.com.