Arrest and Charge Park Ranger Robert Mitchell for the Murder of Gage Lorenz
Arrest and Charge Park Ranger Robert Mitchell for the Murder of Gage Lorenz
On March 21, 2020 Gage Lorentz was traveling from his work site in Pecos, Texas to SW Colorado to spend time with his family. He stopped at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico to meet a friend. He never left. Park Ranger Robert Mitchell pulled over Gage for speeding on a dirt road, and then shot and killed him. Mitchell did not communicate with Gage, he did not warn of intent to use force, and it was clearly murder. Robert Mitchell still walks free and Gage Lorenz's family has no justice. DEMAND ROBERT MITCHELL BE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER, AND THAT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UN-ARM, RETRAIN, AND INVESTIGATE PARK RANGERS.
Eddy County Sheriff's Department Contact: 575-887-1888
Mark A. Cage (Sheriff), Alan Griffith (Chief Deputy), James Moore (Captain): 575-887-7551
Carlsbad Caverns National Park: (575) 785-2232
National Park Service: 202-208-6843
Mike Reynolds, Regional Director National Park Service: 303-969-2500
Carlsbad Caverns Superintendent, Doug Neighbor: (575) 785-2232
Carlsbad City Council: (575) 887-1191
Mayor of Carlsbad, Dale Janway: (575) 887-1191
Carlsbad Police Department: (575) 885-2111
The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham: (505) 476-2200
District Attorney – Dianna Luce: (575) 885-8822
Here's what you need to know:
This happened over 6 months ago. Gage Lorentz worked in Pecos, Texas he was traveling to SW Colorado to be with family. He planned to meet a friend at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Gage was speeding on a dirt road when Park Ranger Robert Mitchell pulled him over. Gage gets out of the truck and Mitchell instructs him to get into a stance for arrest, Gage refuses. Mitchell communicates no intention to use force or reason for arrest. Mitchell fires his taser on Gage.
The video stops here, 26 seconds are missing.
When the video resumes Mitchell is holding a firearm. He shoots Gage in the thigh first, then the chest. The video shows when Gage is shot in the chest, Mitchell is holding the gun to Gage’s chest as he lies on the ground. This shot goes through the heart.
3 minutes and 21 seconds after the second shot, Mitchell handcuffs Gage. More than 8 minutes after handcuffing him and letting him lie on the ground, Mitchell gets the first aid kit from his truck. Over 12 minutes after the first shot, Gage is administered any first aid.
Autopsy reports show that Gage was unarmed and completely sober.
Eyewitnesses say that after the taser was shot, Mitchell quickly attacked Gage and Gage fought back. Mitchell claims he moved in to do a dry tase and since the taser didn’t work he shot him. Mitchell also claims self defense. As previous stated, the fatal blow, was delivered directly to Gage's chest.
Eddy County Sheriff’s Department investigated the death and gave the findings to Dianna Luce, the DA. She is waiting to make a judgement on whether or not the shooting was justified until the 26 missing seconds are recovered.
Park Ranger Robert Mitchell is on administrative reassignment.
Shannon Kennedy, Civil Rights Attorney, is suing the National Park Service on behalf of the Lorentz family. She cites that Mitchell did not properly communicate with Gage. Also, most potently, speeding on a dirt road is not a death sentence.
New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation is now also investigating the death.