Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

Local News

Discussion

January 30, 2011

Teen dies in shootout

BILL ARCHER Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — One Bluefield teenager died early Saturday morning, an adult was transported to a Charleston hospital for treatment and two other male subjects were arrested following a shootout at a West End residence.

“Three suspects kicked in the back door of a residence at 119 Magnolia Street in Bluefield,” Chief J.W. “Joe” Wilson of the Bluefield Police Department said. “A gunfight ensued, and a juvenile inside the residence was shot dead.” Wilson said the juvenile was a 17-year-old male, but did not release the name of the victim.

“One of the three suspects who entered the house was wounded in the gun battle,” Wilson said. “He was transported to a Charleston hospital.” Although the suspect victim was an adult, Wilson did not release his name pending the service of an arrest warrant on him at the hospital. Wilson said that the adult shooting victim did not suffer life-threatening wounds.

Police arrested Jasmen Montgomery, 21, of Pulaski, Va., on a felony murder charge. “The other suspect who is in custody is a 17-year-old male,” Wilson said. “He is in custody and has been taken to the Sam Purdue Center (in Green Valley),” Wilson said.

Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ash said late Saturday evening that neither of the adult suspects have had their initial appearances in magistrate court. Magistrates in West Virginia cannot set bond for suspects charged with felony murder. The suspects would have to appear before a circuit court judge at a bond hearing.

Wilson did not speculate as to the motive for the incident. He said that Detective Lt. C.S. Myers of the Bluefield Police Department is heading up the investigation, and said he is being assisted by members of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com

Text Only
Local News