Mt. Rainier (photo courtesy of Creative Commons).

Authorities said they believe the body discovered by plane lying face down on the mountain is that of Benjamin Colton Barnes, 24. Nearly 200 area law enforcement officers, state and federal agents, snowshoe-wearing SWAT teams and dogs searched for the suspect for a day.

CBS reported that Barnes was believed to have fled to the park on Sunday after a New Year's house party shooting near Seattle. Gunfire erupted during an argument, wounding four, two critically. He was suspected in shooting ranger Margaret Anderson later that day after heading to the remote park to hide.

Anderson had set up a roadblock Sunday morning to stop a man who had blown through a checkpoint set up to make sure drivers had tire chains, CBS reported. Authorities told CBS that a gunman shot her while she was in her vehicle.

According to The Seattle Times, no cause of death or positive identification will be released until the body is retrieved.

Barnes was believed to be carrying a cache of weapons, CBS reported, and had a troubled transition to civilian life after being deployed to Iraq from 2007-2008.

------------

Reach executive producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.