The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

September 9, 2010

Second shooting suspect arrested

Register-Herald Reporter

— ng incident Sunday night in Kilsyth has been arrested, police said.

Sheriff Steve Kessler said Harold Franklin Smith, 23, of Kilsyth, turned himself in at the sheriff’s office Wednesday. Smith, who was wanted on a felony charge of wanton endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of brandishing a dangerous and deadly weapon, was arraigned in magistrate court and released on $5,000 bond.

A co-defendant in the case, Jeremy Hooper Martin, 26, also of Kilsyth, was arrested Sunday and charged with wanton endangerment, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and brandishing a dangerous and deadly weapon. He was released Monday on $5,000 bond.

Fayette 911 received a call Sunday night informing authorities that two men in the area of Howard Lane in Kilsyth were in the roadway exchanging gunfire, Kessler said.

Upon arrival, deputies determined Martin and Smith had engaged in an argument that escalated into both men exchanging shots. When authorities arrived, Martin was at the scene while Smith had fled, Kessler said.

Upon preliminary investigation, deputies searched the residence of Martin and recovered multiple firearms, including a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22 rifle and a .22 handgun, as well as multiple expended cartridge casings. Three large bags of marijuana were also seized, Kessler said.

“Both of these individuals apparently tried to take the law into their own hands and began shooting at each other in a residential neighborhood and endangered everyone who lives in close proximity to where this incident occurred,” Kessler said. “We cannot and will not tolerate this type of behavior from anyone.”

The incident was investigated by Deputies A.E. Roberts and P.J. McCutcheon. They were assisted at the scene by Mount Hope police and State Police troopers.

— Kara Van Pelt

Text Only
Local News