By Gary A. Harki
Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Charleston police officer was killed, apparently by friendly fire, during an altercation with a suspect he pursued to the Elk River area outside Charleston sometime after midnight Sunday, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and Police Chief Brent Webster said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.
Patrolman Jerry Jones, 27, was shot just above his bulletproof vest, Jones said.
The suspect led officers on a chase, which was called off, Webster said.
Affter midnight on Sunday, Patrolman Jones spotted the vehicle on the East End, Webster said. He pursued the car from the intersection of Washington Street and Ruffner Avenue to Greenbrier Street, then onto Pinch Road, Webster said. The suspect had a female passenger in the car, he said.
The suspect pulled over in a gravel area along Pinch Road, Mayor Jones said.
“At some point in the Quick area he became pretty aggressive and the use of deadly force was justified,” Webster said.
The suspect started ramming police cars, at which point officers fired on the vehicle, Mayor Jones said.
Both the suspect and Patrolman Jones were killed, the mayor said. Three Charleston police officers were at the scene when Jones and the suspect were killed, Webster said.
Police have not identified the suspect, pending notification of family members. Police said they do not think the suspect had a gun.
The three officers, along with two others who arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, were placed on administrative leave, Webster said. He stressed that the leave is routine while an investigation is conducted.
Webster said there is a video from a police camera of the incident. After watching it, Webster said he believes the officers acted properly when faced with an extremely dangerous situation.
Jerry Jones was a young man in his 20s, with a young wife, said Mayor Jones said (no relation). “About half the police department showed up last night, between 3 and 6 in the morning, at headquarters. His wife and parents were there too. Their son went to work and didn’t make it back.”
Copyright 2009 CHarleston Gazette