Advertisement Search for hiker suspended after volunteer shot in Nevada County Search team rescued from mountain after shooting Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The search for a missing hiker in Nevada County was called off Wednesday after a search and rescue team volunteer was shot in the hip in a state park, officials said.Steve Wolf, 69, of Newcastle, was part of a three-member volunteer search team from Placer County helping to look for Timothy Hansston, 75, who has been missing since Thursday and was last known to be hiking the South Yuba River, Placer County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Dena Erwin said.The group was hiking Tuesday evening along the South Yuba River near the town of Washington in the Malakoff Diggins Historic State Park when they heard two gunshots ring out about 6:35 p.m.Wolf went to the ground, reporting that he had been shot in the hip, Erwin said. The other two volunteers took cover and radioed for help.The trio, who were in a remote area that was hard to access, were rescued about 10:40 p.m. by a law enforcement helicopter that used GPS and heat-sensing technology to find them.Wolf, who was conscious after the shooting, was airlifted to a hospital, where he underwent surgery and his condition was stabilized, Erwin said.Helicopters with heat-seeking sensors searched for the shooter, who is still at large. Authorities are warning people to stay out of the river canyon area during the search for the shooter.Just outside of the town of Washington, the area along the south fork of the Yuba River has become a crime scene investigation.“Here these volunteers are up here trying to find somebody who’s gone missing,” Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal said.Although a motive is unknown, Royal explained the remote location is attractive to those wanting to stay out of sight.“We do have, and have had historically, marijuana grows in that area. It is federal land, so they tend to be drug trafficking organizations,” Royal said. “We also have miners, and they are going to protecting their mining interests. As well as sovereign citizens who want to be left off the radar.”Wolf has been a search and rescue volunteer for more than 10 years and is considered one of the best in the Placer County unit, according to the sheriff's office."Please keep Steve Wolf and his family in your thoughts, along with the deputies tasked with bringing the suspect to justice," the Placer County Sheriff's Office said in a released statement.On social media, and even in person, search and rescue members from across the country are showing their support.“We are volunteers, we are there to help people,” Nevada County Search and Rescue volunteer Del Clement said. “When you find somebody and you know that you’ve saved a life, it’s just something you can’t put yourself in touch with.”Clement said he paid the Wolf Family a visit at the hospital. In 16 years, he hasn’t experienced a rescue mission escalate into violence.“Never someone shooting one of our volunteers,” Clement said. “This is the first time that I have ever heard of anything like this happening. Anywhere in the state.”No other details were released.