Breckenridge, Colorado — Authorities have arrested a man accused of planning a mass shooting at a popular ski resort while also facing serious drug charges linked to the distribution of fentanyl that led to two deaths in Steamboat Springs. Nathaniel Zabik, 44, from an unincorporated area near Breckenridge, was taken into custody by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month after he allegedly made threats about his intentions on social media.
In addition to his alleged mass shooting plot, Zabik is implicated in a fentanyl trafficking operation that resulted in the fatal overdoses of two local residents. Alongside him, Benjamin Tabor, 48, of Avon, and Matthew Bentley, 37, from Riverbank, California, have also been charged. Together, they face severe penalties, including multiple counts related to distributing fentanyl, which has been labeled as the most serious drug felony under Colorado law.
Authorities have indicated that if convicted on the drug-related charges, the three suspects could face sentences ranging from eight to 32 years in prison. If the case is pursued at the federal level, possible sentences could escalate to between 20 years and life imprisonment. The Steamboat Springs Police Department has chosen to withhold the names of the overdose victims to honor their families’ privacy during this distressing time.
The investigation highlighting the suspects’ involvement stemmed from ongoing efforts by a multi-agency task force, which included law enforcement from various regions in Colorado and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office in California.
In addition to drug charges, Zabik is facing several criminal charges in connection to his threats against the Breckenridge Ski Resort. The specific charges against him include two counts of inciting destruction of life or property, classified as a class 6 felony, two counts of menacing with a weapon, classified as a class 5 felony, and two counts of harassment, which are class 2 misdemeanors.
Zabik is currently detained at the Summit County Detention Facility with a cash-only bond set at $25,000. The investigation into both the shooting threats and the fentanyl distribution is ongoing, with authorities continuing to pursue leads in this concerning case.