Fayette County, West Virginia
From the January 16, 2008 Register-Herald:
A Fayette County burglary suspect was shot by a homeowner who police said was burglarized by the same suspect at least one other time.
Nighttime burglary charges are pending against Tracey Ann McQueen, 25, of Kaymoor Road, Fayetteville, Sheriff Bill Laird said. McQueen was taken to Charleston Area Medical Center Wednesday morning for treatment of a single gunshot wound to her left hand. She was under evaluation at the hospital as of Wednesday afternoon.
At 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Fayette County 911 Center was notified of a burglary in progress at a Pleasant View Road residence, near Fayetteville, Laird said. Later, the alleged burglar was reported to have been shot in the hand by the homeowner. When deputies arrived at the scene, the homeowner said the female suspect fled.
A short time later, deputies identified the suspect as McQueen, Laird said. McQueen was located at a Kaymoor Road residence and taken to Plateau Medical Center. She was later transferred to CAMC.
The preliminary investigation indicates the female victim was awakened to find McQueen inside the residence, Laird said. The victim confronted McQueen, attempting to hold her at gunpoint while awaiting deputies’ arrival. A struggle ensued, during which McQueen was apparently shot by the victim’s .22 caliber revolver.
Laird said McQueen had been charged with burglarizing the same residence Nov. 4, and she was free on bond when the latest incident occurred. McQueen was also considered a primary suspect in at least one other previous incident at the same residence. Reports indicate the victim’s house had been burglarized on several other occasions during the past few months.
McQueen is believed to have, in the past, lived near the victim’s residence, Laird said. Laird was unsure if McQueen and the victim actually knew each other.
No charges have been filed against the homeowner, Laird said.
Labels: residence burglary, WV
Clendenin, West Virginia
From the Charleston Daily Mail of December 27, 2007
Woman shoots her husband during fight
Police say a Clendenin woman shot her husband after an argument turned physical.
The man is in the hospital after being shot in the abdomen.
Darrell and Leisa Welch, both 31, who are a legally-separated couple, got into a verbal argument at their residence on Thorofare Road on Wednesday night, said Kanawha County Sheriff's Lt. Sean Crosier.
After the argument, Darrell left the home, but returned just before 9 p.m., Crosier said.
Leisa locked the front door when he arrived, but Darrell kicked it in, Crosier said.
The two then got into a physical fight, the deputy said.
Leisa was able to get away from Darrell and got a small, .22-caliber pistol and shot him once in the abdomen, Crosier said.
He was taken to Charleston Area Medical's Center General Hospital where he is under evaluation.
Police did not arrest or charge either person in the case, but are requesting advice from prosecuting attorneys in the ongoing case, Crosier said.
The investigation is continuing, he said.
Labels: domestic dispute, WV
Bland County, West Virginia
From Bluefield’s WVVA.com of September 13, 2007
Possible Coyote With Rabies
Brian Akers and a group of neighbors were standing outside when a sickly looking coyote approached them.
They tried to run the coyote off by chasing it away with a four-wheeler, but the coyote wasn't startled.
After the coyote lunged and attempted to bite a neighbor, Mr. Akers shot and killed the animal.
The coyote was taken to the Bland County Health Department and is now undergoing testing for rabies.
Kingwood, West Virginia
From the Charleston Daily Mail of September 13, 2007
Substitute teacher acquitted in neighbor's fatal shooting
A man accused of killing a neighbor during a dispute over a dog has been acquitted following his six-day trial in Preston County Circuit Court.
The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for nearly three hours Tuesday before returning the not guilty verdict against Ronald Schleger.
Schleger, a 56-year-old substitute math teacher, was initially charged with murder, malicious assault and attempted murder.
On May 12, 2006, both Schleger and Douglas Livengood, 43, called Preston County's 911 center to report that Schleger had run over and killed Livengood's dog.
Authorities said Schleger later called 911 to report that he had shot Livengood.
Livengood's wife was also shot but survived.
Preston County Prosecuting Attorney Melvin C. Snyder III told the jury in closing arguments that the shooting had all the elements of malice, premeditation and intent.
Schleger, however, maintained that he fired his gun in self-defense.
Labels: altercation, WV
St. Albans, West Virginia
From the Charleston Gazette of April 26, 2007
Booker’s shooting death called self-defense
The shooting death of former Capital High School basketball star Lawrence “L.B.” Booker in St. Albans last week was “self-defense,” a St. Albans police officer said Wednesday.
Police responded to the shooting in the early morning hours of April 17. They spoke with Justin Johnson, who told police he had shot a man who attacked him with a gun in the parking lot of his apartment at 741 Holley St., according a search warrant for a Jeep Grand Cherokee spotted at the crime scene.
Booker, 23, of Dunbar, and a “company of other people” may have been trying to rob Johnson when shots were exchanged, said Lt. James Agee of the St. Albans Police Department.
“Booker and other parties came to St. Albans and put a gun to [Johnson’s] head,” Agee said.
After being shot twice, Booker was taken in the Jeep by a woman to Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, according to the search warrant. He later died at CAMC General Hospital.
“Mr. Johnson shot Mr. Booker, that much we know,” Agee said, adding that police recovered guns carried by both Booker and Johnson.
“Our belief is [Johnson] was going to be a victim of some violence [and] was defending himself,” Agee said.
Police have not charged anyone in the incident, but Agee said investigators are still seeking information from “people of interest.” An arrest will likely be forthcoming, he said.
Johnson cooperated with police on the night of the shooting, Agee said.
As a senior in 2001, Booker was a first-team All State basketball player for Capital. The season was highlighted by a game-winning, last-second 3-pointer in the state AAA finals against George Washington High School.
Labels: street robbery, WV
Ona, West Virginia
From the Huntington Herald Dispatch of April 12, 2007
Woman shoots dog she claims attacked her
A woman in a trailer park shot a dog that she claimed was attacking her while she got out of her car Wednesday night.
The woman, who lives out on Howells Mill Road, reported to Cabell County Sheriff's that two German shepherd dogs approached her near her vehicle and became very aggressive.
Officers said the woman apparently shot one of the dogs with a .38 revolver, leaving it wounded and causing the other one to run off at the time of the report.
No arrests were made and the owners of the dogs were not present at the time. The woman and neighborhood witnesses told officers that the landlord has warned the owners about leaving their dogs without a leash. Officers notified Animal Control about the two dogs.
Mercer County, West Virginia
From the April 3, 2007 Charleston [West Virginia] Gazette:
PRINCETON – A Virginia man was shot and killed in Mercer County after he apparently approached his ex-girlfriend’s friend with a knife, police said.
About 2:36 a.m. Sunday, police were called to Kirby Addition Road near Princeton where Luther Vane Byrd, 37, of Bluefield, Va., was found dead with a knife in his possession, Mercer County Sheriff’s Detective L.B. Murphy said.
Milton Justice, 57, of Princeton had left a home where Byrd’s ex-girlfriend stayed since they parted and she moved out, he said.
When Byrd approached him in the driveway, Justice fired a .38 special at least once from inside the vehicle, striking Byrd in the head and killing him, Murphy said.
“We believe [Byrd’s ex-girlfriend did not have] an intimate relationship with shooter, but they were friends,” he said. “Luther was jealous of that.”
Justice has not been charged with a crime since it appears he killed Byrd in self-defense, he said.
But the shooting remains under investigation. Murphy will turn over his findings to the county prosecutor, who will determine whether to file any charges.
Police suspect Byrd was under influence of drugs and alcohol, Murphy said. His body was sent to the state Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
Labels: domestic abuse, WV
Poca, West Virginia
From Charleston’s The State Journal of April 2, 2007
Putnam County Pharmacist Fires Back at Armed Robber
Putnam County pharmacy robbed twice since February.
A gun fight after an armed robbery locked down some Piutnam (sic) County schools early Monday.
An armed robber walked into the ValuRite Pharmacy for the second time since February, but this time, pharmacist Brac Brown followed him out.
When asked if the armed robber fired his weapon, Brown said, "That's possible, I don't really know on that. No comment."
Putnam County Sheriff Mark Smith said the thief, with 3000 OxyContin and hydrocodone pills in hand, shot first at Brown as he ran across a field to his car. Brown then fired back.
"I would assume, based on what happened today, that the pharmacist decided he would do something to protect himself, try to protect his business and I guess that's what occurred," said Smith.
Smith said there is no indication that anyone was shot as a result of the exchange.
Brown said when the robber walked in to the store, he was more aggressive and had a bigger gun. He pushed a patron, moved everyone to the back of the store and demanded drugs.
"We don't know how to keep someone from walking through the door with a gun," said Brown.
The ValuRite pharmacist ordered security cameras after the first robbery. They're not installed yet.
Brown said the same man robbed his store on Monday and early last month.
"His face was covered this time but, I recognized his height, voice and eyes," he said.
Smith disagreed, saying "the only thing we really have that's consistent, from the description, is a white male."
Smith said the suspect did speed away in a four-door, silver mid-sized vehicle. Deputies continue to look for him.
A spokesperson for Putnam County schools says all Poca and Rock Branch area schools were placed on lock down as a precautionary measure.
The lockdown was lifted by 11 a.m.
Labels: business robbery, WV
Huntington, West Virginia
From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch of March 3, 2007
Charges dismissed in nightclub shooting
Charges were dismissed Friday morning against a man who police say shot three people outside the Chickadee's nightclub in February.
The Cabell County Prosecutor's Office agreed to dismiss three felony counts of unlawful wounding that faced Harold Radford Porter, according to defense attorney David Perry and Magistrate Darrell Black.
Porter, 26, of Huntington had claimed he shot two men and a woman Feb. 3 because he was being targeted by several people from Detroit. He contends he fired in self defense.
Black said prosecutors dismissed the charges with a desire to present evidence to a future grand jury.
Porter had been free on a $30,000 bond.
Labels: altercation, WV
Elkins, West Virginia
From Clarksburg’s WBOY.com of February 19, 2007
Randolph County Man Charged With Murder Has Bond HearingFrom Clarksburg’s WBOY.com of February 22, 2007
Police say Steven Dan Snider fatally shot Leslie Woodford Friday night.
A Randolph County judge has set bond for a man accused of killing another man during a domestic dispute.
Steven Snider, 49, is in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail his bond has been set at 250 thousand dollars, cash only. Sheriff's deputies say Snider shot Leslie Woodford after a domestic dispute Friday night.
According to sheriff's deputies, Woodford was finalizing a messy divorce with his ex-wife.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday, deputies Mark T. Brady and Richard T. Swisher responded to a 911 call at a home on Sully Road near Alpina.
Woodford went to his ex-wife's father's home, kicked in the front door and pointed a handgun at the 76-year-old man.
Woodford was threatening to kill the family, authorities said.
The father attempted to defend himself with a 12-gauge shotgun.
Woodford confronted his ex-wife, but left the scene before authorities arrived.
Brady said Woodford then went to the South Henry Avenue home of Steven Dan Snider, who had been dating Woodford's ex-wife.
Deputies said Woodford busted down his door and shot at Snider.
Snider fired back and fatally wounded Woodford. Woodford was airlifted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where he was pronounced dead.
Snider is now charged with second degree murder.
Both incidents are under investigation by the Elkins Police Department, the Randolph County Sheriff's Department and the West Virginia State Police.
Case Dismissed Against Randolph County Man Charged in Fatal Shooting
Evidence indicated the shooting was self defense.
A Randolph County magistrate has closed the case against Steven Snider in the shooting death of Leslie Woodford.
Authorities arrested Snider after police said Woodford burst into his home, tried to shoot him and Snider fired back.
At that hearing, Randolph County Prosecutor Frank Bush moved to dismiss the case against Snider, saying the evidence indicates the shooting was done in self defense.
That case has raised questions about what is self defense.
State law doesn't specifically address the issue so how do you know when you can defend yourself with deadly force?
Bush said its a difficult claim since each and every case is different.
The magistrate granted the state's request to dismiss the case without prejudice. Snider's attorneys says the prosecutor made the right choice based on the evidence.
An amendment to the West Virginia state code covering home protections is making its way through the state Legislature.
The amendment outlines reasons to allow the use of deadly force.
1. The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person's will from the dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle.
2. The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.
From a police perspective, investigating a shooting, self defense or not, still must be treated as a crime.
Right now that bill is making its way through the House Judiciary Committee. Snider has been released from jail and is back home.
Labels: domestic dispute, home invasion, WV
Charleston, West Virginia
From the The Charleston Gazette of January 24, 2007
Shooting suspect says it was self defense
A South Charleston man said he was defending himself when he shot a teenager Monday night in his home near the city’s police station.
John Tyburski said two teenagers came to his home looking for his son, who lives in another part of the city. He said he didn’t know either of them, but allowed them inside to be courteous.
Tyburski said he couldn’t talk about some specifics of the shooting because it is still under investigation.
The 17-year-old shooting victim and another teen were at Tyburski’s home in the 200 block of Fourth Avenue to buy drugs, when they got into an altercation with a man who lives in the home, South Charleston Police Lt. H.S. Leishman said on Monday. During the argument, the resident shot at the teens and hit one of them in the abdomen, he said.
Police recovered a handgun. No charges have been filed. The teenagers’ names have not been released because of their ages. Police did not have an update on the condition of the boy who was shot.
The boys ran from the home then down an alley. The injured teen collapsed behind a home several doors away, Leishman said. He was being treated at CAMC General Hospital’s intensive care unit Monday night.
Tyburski said he suffered some blows to the head and now has some swelling. He said he thinks he would be dead if he didn’t have his gun.
Labels: altercation, WV
Montcalm, West Virginia
From Charleston’s The State Journal of October 19, 2006
Would-Be Burglar Shot and Killed In Mercer County
State Police say a would-be burglar is dead after he allegedly tried to break into a Montcalm home.
A man is dead after he threw a brick through the glass door of a Montcalm home.
State Police say Adam Lee Bennett shattered a door of Rodney Hendrick’s home about 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Hendrick, who had been sleeping, grabbed a gun and confronted Bennett, who was standing at the door, police said.
Hendrick then opened fire, hitting Bennett in the chest, police said.
Bennett, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene.
No charges will be filed against Hendrick, but the Mercer County prosecutor will present the case to the next session of the grand jury.
Labels: residence burglary, WV
Clarksburg, West Virginia
From Wheeling‘s WTRF.com of June 29, 2006
Robbery Victim Shoots at Suspect
The owner of a Clarksburg antique store tells 12 News how a man entered his store and robbed him. The owner says he chased the suspect outside, firing two shots.
A manhunt was launched for the man who tried to rob the West End Antique Store on the 900 block of Pike Street in Clarksburg.
The store's owner, Roger Hardy, says he chased the suspect and fired two shots at him as he ran.
Everything started just around 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Hardy says a man with his head and face covered came inside and showed his gun. Three other customers were in the store at the time.
"He told me to get on the floor and give him the money and I thought it was a joke and it took me a couple of seconds," Hardy says. "He kept repeating that, using vulgarity. Then he come behind the counter and hit me with the gun as I was getting down on the floor
Afterwards, he called 9-1-1 and then followed the suspect with a gun of his own, firing two shots at the getaway truck.
"I picked up my gun too, I don't want to shoot nobody, but I walked up beside their truck and I couldn't stop the truck. So, I just shot the window out of the truck then as they passed my store, I shot again."
Police then fanned out across the the west end of Clarksburg. Eventually, the alleged getaway truck was located at the old Anchor Hoching plant. There they took a woman into custody. She's belived to have been in the getaway truck.
Labels: business robbery, WV
Welch, West Virginia
From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph of May 18, 2006
McDowell shooting kills one
One man is dead and another critically wounded after an alleged break-in and altercation at a Ritter Hollow residence in McDowell County.
The incident occurred around 10:22 p.m. Tuesday night.
The 911 report “is that two men broke into the house and started fighting with the homeowner, and the homeowner had shot and had killed one man and the other had been shot and left the scene,” McDowell County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Shelton said.
Thornton Toby Jones, 43, the homeowner of the house shot the alleged intruders with a 9 mm handgun, Shelton said.
Randall Osborne, no date of birth available, died on the scene, Shelton said.
Jaime McCoy, no date birth available, also of Coon Branch, fled the scene to seek medical treatment, Shelton said.
McCoy was taken to Welch Memorial Hospital and later transported to Charleston Area Medical Center, where he is listed in stable but critical condition, Shelton said.
During the incident, Shelton said shots were actually fired in the living room, “but it is still undetermined where either one was shot at — whether it was outside or inside.”
“There’s so much involved, and it undermined at this time. We’re still interviewing people. It’s still under investigation,” Shelton said. No charges have been filed at this time, he said.
Coon Branch is about five miles from Ritter Hollow. Ritter Hollow is located near Iaeger.
Labels: assault, home invasion, WV
Fayetteville, West Virginia
From the Charleston Gazette of April 18, 2006
Funeral director innocent in son-in-law's shooting
A Fayette County funeral home director was found not guilty Monday of murdering his son-in-law.
Larry Hess, who managed Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, never denied shooting Jerry T. Chesterfield. He fired five bullets from his Glock semi-automatic, and four of those struck Chesterfield.
But Hess testified Monday that he shot his son-in-law in self-defense. “I always kept the shell in the chamber,” he said.
He said he had to keep firing because Chesterfield kept coming at him. But two nationally recognized blood spatter experts said Chesterfield’s severe wounds would have put him on the floor quickly.
Throughout the trial, Hess’ younger daughter and several witnesses testified about domestic abuse in the Chesterfield marriage. In his testimony, Hess never wavered that he knew nothing about any problems in the marriage.
Hess came home after Easter weekend last year to find a lamp and a window broken in the funeral home he managed. He said he accepted his daughter’s story that her husband and a friend were drinking, and she got between them, giving her a black eye.
On the day Chesterfield was shot, April 28 of last year, he came to the garage at the funeral home. Hess said Chesterfield was gathering some items in the garage that he owned.
Just before Chesterfield pulled a knife, Hess said, he was holding a pair of his rubber hunting boots in his right hand. Hess said he could not remember how Chesterfield came to drop the boots and take up the knife.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” Hess testified when he saw the knife.
(More)
Labels: domestic dispute, WV
Princeton, West Virginia
From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph of February 9, 2006
Robertson not guilty of murder
After more than seven hours of deliberation, a Mercer County jury decided a Princeton man shot his son-in-law in self defense. Jerry Lee Robertson, 49, was accused of killing his son-in-law, Aaron Paul Lowe, 26.
Lowe was allegedly inside Robertson’s home, a house where Lowe also once lived, at the time of the fatal shooting. What happened inside the house on Sept. 10, 2005 remained a key point of contention between the state and the defense throughout the trial that started Tuesday in Circuit Court Judge Derek Swope’s courtroom.
During the proceedings, Prosecuting Attorney William Sadler and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney George Sitler said Robertson planned the shooting. They argued that Lowe was family, that he had a right to be in the house, and the only movement he made before he died was toward the door, and not Robertson.
The prosecution also argued that Robertson had the gun in advance, and loaded it in advance, therefore making the murder premeditated.
Meanwhile, Robertson’s attorney, Joe Harvey, argued that Robertson was simply defending himself against Lowe. With a history of past altercations, Harvey said his client had reason to fear for life and saw no other choice but to pull the trigger the day Lowe died.
Harvey also stated that Robertson, who suffers from neck and back injuries, was defending himself and his house. Considering his size, standing at 5 feet, 3 inches tall, Harvey said he turned to a gun for protection.
Testimony from Robertson’s preliminary hearing indicated that Lowe had been sitting on the couch when he was shot and may have removed his baseball cap and laid it on the couch.
Just after the shooting, Robertson allegedly told Det. Sgt. C.N. Poe of the Princeton Police Department, that Lowe was no good, and had “broken in on me.” When informed that Lowe was not yet dead, Robertson allegedly told Poe, “I must have missed.”
Labels: domestic dispute, WV
Parkersburg, West Virginia
From the Parkersburg News and Sentinel of November 24, 2005
Employee thwarts robbery attempt
Police are searching for a robbery suspect who attempted to rob a local business Wednesday morning but abandoned his plan when an employee said he too had a gun.
Parkersburg police Capt. Steve Flinn said the attempted robbery of the Owl's Nest at 1217 Garfield Ave. occurred at 7:12 a.m.
"A man walked in wearing a ski mask and had his hands in his pockets claiming to have a gun," Flinn said. "At that time the employee on duty said, 'I have one, too.'"
Flinn said the suspect turned and fled the establishment on foot after the employee showed his firearm.
Nothing was taken and the suspect has not been apprehended, Flinn said. A description of the suspect was unavailable.
Police Chief George Fox said what happened Wednesday is not something the police suggest store clerks or others do in a similar situation, although they have a right to defend themselves.
"It's kind of a double-edged sword," Fox said. "It could go either way. I understand he (the employee) had a permit for the gun. I'm not sure if he brandished the gun or just said he had one."
Fox said in his 34 years on the police force he has heard of a few similar situations in Parkersburg, but none have turned tragic.
"Sometimes you see something like this where both sides have a gun and they just start shooting," he said. "It's not worth the potential consequences. Money is an inanimate object; you can always make more."
Fox said the stress of a robbery situation could take a turn for the worst.
"There's always the potential that the person has a gun and it's hard to tell what they would do if challenged," he said.
"The clerk must have a lot of self control. Stress does funny things to people.
"I see the potential for disaster in that type of situation."
Labels: business robbery, concealed carry permit, WV
Bluefield, West Virginia
From the July 15, 2005 Bluefield Daily Telegraph:
BLUEFIELD - Police in Bluefield continued their investigation Friday into the shooting death of a Bluefield, Va. man, who sustained 10 gunshot wounds following an apparent altercation Thursday night.
"Witnesses say that Ricardo Lee, 40, who was an acquaintance of the homeowner, forced his way into the Hubbard residence without permission," Lt. Tom Helton, with the Bluefield Police Department, said. "He had a knife in his hand and the owner of the house had asked him to leave repeatedly, but Lee refused. Witnesses said Lee wanted to talk to someone in the house."
According to Helton, Dennis Hubbard, 57, the owner of the home at 210 Poplar St. told him that he (Hubbard) was in fear of his life and shot Lee 10 times with a .38 caliber pistol. Helton said the shooting occurred at approximately 9 p.m.
Labels: assault, home invasion, WV
Cabell County, West Virginia
From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch of April 20, 2004
Police name suspect in shooting death
(Headline refers to a second incident)
West Virginia State Police continued to investigate Monday two shootings that took place Sunday evening, one a homicide.
No charges had been filed or arrests had been made Monday in connection with the shooting death of Joseph Adkins, 26, of 5007 Doss Hill Road. He died from a fatal chest wound shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday at the home of 33-year-old Jeffrey Bradshaw, 5231 Long Branch Road. Bradshaw is a suspect in the case.
"We’re still going through all this," said Senior Trooper Mike Pardee of the state police. "It does appear this incident was domestic-related between a (current) boyfriend and the father of the girlfriend’s little boy (an ex-boyfriend)."
The shooting appears to have been the result of a disturbance in which a victim had been there earlier in the day, said Cabell County Prosecutor Chris Chiles. It appears Adkins came back, forced his way into the trailer and was shot after he made entry, he said.
"At this point, the investigation indicates there was no criminal act, that the shooting was done in self defense," Chiles said. "Just because somebody is killed, does not mean that it’s a crime."
But the investigation continues, he said.
No subsequent stories about this incident were found.
Labels: domestic dispute, WV
Preston, West Virginia
From the Morgantown Dominion Post of June 17, 2004
Robbery foiled in Preston
Store owner holds men at gunpoint until police arrive
When two young men decided to take up a life of crime, they bought the best tools and prepared for everything -- except the owners showing up with a shotgun.
Russell and Erica Rodeheaver followed an "agreed routine" when the alarm was tripped at Casteel's Store and Dairy King, off the Hazelton Exit of Interstate 68, at 12:42 a.m. Wednesday.
"My husband checked the back door, and it was secure. He went to the kitchen door and could see that it was ajar just a little bit," Erica Rodeheaver said.
She kept the headlights of her 2003 Ford Explorer on the building, illuminating it while Russell went around checking the windows. From inside the SUV, she was able to see the doors.
"The back door opened up slightly, and when it did, it was the robbers inside, so I hollered at (Russell), and he came around and told them to come on out, and they did," Erica said. "Of course, he had a shotgun, and he told them to sit down, and we called the law. And they sat there until the law came."
David Elvis Dalton Jr., 23, of Woodland Terrace, Morgantown, and Justin Ray Funk, 21, of Salisbury, N.C., stayed put until police arrived to take them away. Each was charged with breaking and entering, and conspiracy; they were lodged in the Preston County Jail on Wednesday afternoon in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Labels: business burglary, WV
Monongalia County, West Virginia
From the Morgantown Dominion Post of May 11, 2004
2 men charged with home invasion
Victim held suspects at gunpoint until the police arrived
A local duo charged in connection with a home invasion in Monongalia County have posted bond.
At about 2:40 a.m. Sunday, Mon County Sheriff's Department deputies arrested 24-year-old Jonathan Brent Lowe and 22-year-old Robert James Thrasher.
Police said they apprehended the men following an attempted armed robbery along Bethel Road.
On Monday, court authorities announced Lowe and Thrasher had each posted $10,000 bond.
On the day of the incident, victims told police the suspects gained entry into their home by kicking in the residence's front door.
After Lowe and Thrasher entered the home, police reported, the men kicked open a locked bedroom door and demanded money from two victims.
The suspects, police noted, were armed with a handgun and two wooden clubs.
Another resident, who was inside the home during the reported invasion, retrieved his shotgun and held the suspects at bay until police arrived.
No one was hurt. The suspects face armed robbery charges. A preliminary hearing has not been slated.
Labels: home invasion, residence robbery, WV
