UPDATE: WVSP Trooper to make full recovery
SOPHIA, W.Va. (WVVA) - UPDATE: The Trooper who was shot during a traffic stop at a Dollar General in Sophia on Monday is expected to make a full recovery, according to the West Virginia State Police Beckley Detachment.
WVSP confirmed that the injured Trooper is Courtney Casey with the WVSP Beckley Detachment.
Trooper Casey was shot in the arm by Scott Arthur O’Brien, who was later shot and killed by police after an all-day manhunt.
WVSP says the bullet only grazed Trooper Casey’s elbow.
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UPDATE: A press release from WVSP Captain Robert A. Maddy is giving new details into the death of Scott Arthur O’Brien, who shot and injured a Trooper during a traffic stop Monday morning.
Around 7 p.m., law enforcement located O‘Brien as he was running from a wood line near Sunset Hills Missionary Church, located off Independence Road near Coal City.
While chasing O’Brien, Troopers were able to confirm that he was still armed. The release says O’Brien was shot and killed by WVSP on scene after he refused to drop the weapon.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
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SOPHIA, W.Va. (WVVA) - UPDATE: A source close to the investigation has confirmed to WVVA that the suspect is dead.
We will continue to follow this story as we learn more.
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WVVA’s Gailyn Markham has followed law enforcement to a building on Coal City Road, which is a few miles from the Dollar General where the incident took place.
Officers on scene told Markham that they located the suspect’s vehicle, but not the suspect.
There are still multiple K-9 units on the ground and helicopters are in the sky searching for O’Brien.
Officers are constantly going in and out of the building, but there is no update on whether they have found anything that could lead officials to O’Brien’s location.
WVSP and Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office are the law enforcement working the scene.
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A West Virginia State Police Trooper was shot while conducting a traffic stop according to WVSP Captain R.A. Maddy.
The stop occurred at the Dollar General in Midway off of exit 42 of I-77.
According to Captain Maddy, at 9:22 a.m., the suspect produced a firearm and fired one round at the trooper striking them in the elbow.
WVVA’s Gailyn Markham is on the scene where she said that in addition to the large police presence, there are helicopters circling the area. She also added that law enforcement ATVs have followed police cruisers down Independence Road.
The suspect is believed to be Scott Arthur O’Brien of Hamilton, Ohio, and the suspect vehicle, a white Jeep Grand Cherokee bearing West Virginia registration 68H949 in an unknown direction.
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There is older damage present on the driver’s side A pillar, hood and fender near the rear-view mirror.
If anyone locates the suspect vehicle or suspect, please call the West Virginia State Police Beckley Detachment at 304 256-6700.
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