Published May 28th, 2021
A West Virginia State Trooper is recovering after being shot Friday in Martinsburg during a standoff with an individual suspected of being involved in a nearby homicide. Earlier in the day, West Virginia State Police were called to investigate a suspicious death near Hedgesville. Upon arrival, they found a deceased individual who had suffered "severe trauma". The investigation led troopers to a residence in the 100 block of Fairfax Street of Martinsburg around 3 pm, where they believed a possible suspect in the Hedgesville incident may be found. Upon arrival at the Martinsburg residence, troopers were fired upon by the suspect, who was hiding in the attic of the residence. One of the troopers was shot in the lower abdominal area but was saved due to the bulletproof vest that he was wearing. After being shot at, the troopers retreated outside and set up a perimeter. The suspect fired several more times out of the second-story window at law enforcement officers with what police believe to have been a handgun. After nearly an hour and no response from the suspect, troopers and Berkeley County deputies entered the home and found the suspect deceased from an apparently self-inflicted handgun wound. The investigation into both incidents is continuing.
The trooper was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released.
