Federal agents help nab Fountain shooting suspect

Federal agents have helped track down a convicted felon accused of shooting a man in Fountain.

Tabauri Olanion Bell, 31, was on the run for a week after police said he shot at a stranger for no apparent reason.

The United States Marshall’s Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted local police in catching Bell during a traffic stop Friday afternoon at Fountain and Chelton in Colorado Springs.

Bell is facing assault and weapons charges and may also face federal firearms charges because he was a convicted felon accused of carrying a gun.

“It’s been horrible. One of the worst weeks of my life, probably,” said Suzanne Robinson, the shooting victim’s mother.

The crime scene played out in front of her home last Friday night when she said her 28-year-old son, Chadd Tipton, pulled into her driveway and was approached by Bell.

Robinson said she’d seen Bell hanging around before and immediately had a bad feeling.

“Just by the body language,” she said. “I turned around and went to get the phone, and at that point, I heard the gunshots. And heard a mother’s worst nightmare: ‘Mom, I’ve been shot.'”

Tipton was shot in the arm, and a bullet also grazed his face and hit his ear.

Robinson said she’s spent the last week worrying where Bell might be, and said she’s thrilled and relieved that he’s behind bars.

She said she still wonders why Bell was on the street in the first place. He’s been in trouble with the law for the last decade, and was arrested just a month ago, accused of threatening employees at a Colorado Springs gym with a gun and carrying methamphetamine. He was released on $3,000 bond.

“$3,000 are you kidding?” asked Robinson. “I mean, he was just arrested last month. Why are you letting him out?”

She said she’s also concerned that Bell is being charged with first-degree assault and not attempted murder in her son’s shooting. Fountain police told KRDO Newschannel 13 that they are going to talk to the district attorney about upping the charges.

Tipton does not have health insurance. His mom has set up a medical fund for him at ENT Federal Credit Union under the name “Chadd M. Tipton.”