MONTCALM —
A Mercer County deputy is now on administrative leave after a domestic violence call led to a fatal shooting.
Sheriff Don Meadows said he was contacted at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday about a shooting on Sandlick Road.
“Officers went on a domestic call, and we had people there and a state trooper arrived shortly afterward,” he said. “One of the officers was confronted by a guy with a weapon.”
The male individual was asked repeatedly to put the weapon down. Meadows declined to say what sort of weapon was involved. Meadows did say that a chain saw was involved during the domestic violence incident.
“When the officer felt threatened, he shot him,” Meadows said.
Meadows said that the officer who fired the fatal shot or shots was a Mercer County deputy, but he would not disclose the deputy’s identity Sunday evening or the identity of the person who had been shot.
Meadows said he did not know if all members of the person’s family had been notified.
The deputy is now on administrative leave.
Meadows said the deputy asked to remain on duty, but he told the officer to take some time off.
“It’s kind of traumatic for the officer,” Meadows said.
Meadows said that he asked the West Virginia State Police to investigate the incident.
The state police brought in a specialist to begin reconstructing what took place at the scene.
“They were very helpful last night and I had no problem with them doing the investigation,” Meadows said. “We just think it’s better if an outside agency does it. We’re not saying there’s anything wrong. At this point, we see no problem.”
The body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, Meadows said.
“It will be late tomorrow (Monday) or Tuesday before we hear anything from the medical examiner,” he said.
The investigating officer, Sgt. D.W. Miller of the West Virginia State Police detachment near Princeton, was not available for comment Sunday.
— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
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