A tragic shooting on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Colorado has left a 7-year-old boy dead and a community searching for answers. The heartbreaking incident unfolded just after midnight when 24 bullets were fired into a home, hitting young Zamias Lang as he lay in bed next to his father, Zackieus Lang.
According to court documents, Zackieus told investigators that his son was sleeping on his right side when the gunfire erupted. The shooter, identified as Jeremiah Hight, is accused of firing the shots with what authorities described as an “assault-style rifle.” The gunfire left the home riddled with bullet holes, marking a devastating moment for the family and the tight-knit community.
In an arrest affidavit, the FBI reported that Hight, who was drinking with others earlier that evening, allegedly mentioned plans to “shoot up Zackieus Lang’s house.” The motive for the attack, however, remains unclear. The Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, located in the Four Corners region where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet, is under federal jurisdiction, and the FBI is leading the investigation.
Hight was arrested days later by Navajo Nation police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs drug enforcement team. He was found on a remote mesa near Oljato, Utah, on the Navajo Nation reservation. Authorities had been searching for him for days before his capture. A spokesperson for the Navajo police, Chrissy Largo, shared that the arrest followed the announcement of a $10,000 reward for information leading to Hight’s arrest.
Surveillance footage near the Colorado home showed someone firing in the area where investigators later recovered 24 bullet casings. In his statement, Zackieus recounted the horrifying moment when his son, Zamias, was struck and immediately began “struggling in pain.”
Hight has been charged with second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country, and using a firearm during a violent crime. He briefly appeared in federal court in Flagstaff, Arizona, and agreed to be sent to Colorado to face the charges.
As the community mourns Zamias’ tragic death, questions linger about what led to such a horrific act. Authorities continue their investigation, hoping to bring justice to Zamias and his family.
