New details on Fountain shooting suspect

A convicted felon with a long criminal past is on the run after police say he shot a man in Fountain Friday night.

The crime happened on the 500 block Harvest Moon Road just before 10 p.m. Police said Tabauri Bell, 31, got in an argument with a man and shot him.

Relatives identified the victim as 28-year-old Chad Tipton. They said he wasn’t seriously hurt and was released from the hospital Saturday after a bullet grazed his face.

“It was pretty devastating to know that a family member got shot,” said Tipton’s relative Salina Grimaldo. “You can’t even trust people in your own neighborhood.”

Tipton’s mom told KRDO Newschannel 13 that her son didn’t know Bell, and that Bell came up to him and his friend and started trouble.

According to court records, Bell has had many arrests over the past decade and multiple convictions for assault and drug charges.

Most recently, Bell was arrested in July after police said he threatened employees at a Colorado Springs 24 Hour Fitness. Police said Bell was carrying an illegal gun and methamphetamine. He was released from jail on $3,000 bond and was due in court at the end of this month.

Neighbors said they’ve seen Bell around the area before.

“He was just walking up the street, he looked intoxicated,” recalled neighbor Josten Sheats who said he saw Bell more than a week ago. “He just walked up said, ‘hi,’ for a minute then kept walking.”

Tipton’s family said they want Bell off the streets for good.

“I hope anybody who has a tip or sees him calls in because something needs to be done before someone else gets hurt,” said Grimaldo.

Anyone with information should call Fountain Police at 719-382-8555.