Posted on 07/21/2008 4:18:46 PM PDT by marktwain
Dallas murder suspect arrested in Zanesville
Law enforcement, firefighters and postal investigators respond to the scene of a shooting at the Dallas Post Office Friday afternoon. The road around the post office was closed for hours.
POST OFFICE IS CLOSED
Following the fatal shooting Friday, the Dallas Post Office will be closed today and until further notice, postal officials said late Friday.
Post office box customers at the Dallas Post Office can pick up their box mail at the Valley Grove Post Office, 3470 National Road.
Mail delivery for Dallas customers will be conducted as normal, officials said.
DALLAS, W.Va. - Police believe Todd Dolin walked into the Dallas Post Office Friday afternoon and killed Postmaster Lua Wolverton with two blasts from a shotgun.
Now they are hoping to find out why.
Dolin, 39, of Marshall County was arrested by police in Zanesville, Ohio, several hours after the 2:30 p.m. shooting. Officers described the event as a "non-confrontational arrest" following a traffic stop. Dolin was named a suspect in the shooting by West Virginia State Police Sgt. J.A. Laing.
Laing said Dolin will be charged in Ohio as a fugitive from justice wanted for first-degree murder in Marshall County.
State police were dispatched to the post office around 2:30 p.m. Friday following a 911 call. Trooper James Dean of the Wheeling detachment found Wolverton, 43, inside the post office with two gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
Marshall County Sheriff John Gruzinskas said Wolverton called 911 after being shot and provided a description of the shooter. Gruzinskas said the shotgun was left at the scene.
Wolverton was taken by medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where she was pronounced dead.
According to Gruzinskas, the victim and Dolin had a "familiar relationship," but he declined to comment further.
Dolin was driving a maroon 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup truck, and was reportedly taken to an Ohio hospital for observation following his arrest in Zanesville.
"Dolin will be taken before a judge in Ohio before being extradited to West Virginia to face charges in the murder of Lua Wolverton," Laing said. "The matter is being investigated by Cpl. R.M. Hogan of the Moundsville detachment of the West Virginia State Police."
The investigation is being spearheaded by U.S. Postal Service inspectors as well as state police. The Ohio County Sheriff's Department and Marshall County Sheriff's Department are named as assisting agencies.
Dallas resident Glenn Milliken, who lives two houses away from the post office, said he was watching television in his living room when he heard the shots, although he wasn't immediately aware of the source.
"I didn't realize what happened until I went out to get the newspaper," Milliken said.
Despite Dallas being a small, unincorporated community, Milliken isn't entirely surprised this happened.
"In this day and age, it can happen anywhere," he lamented.
Dallas residents did experience an interruption in postal service Friday, but Tad Kelley, USPS communications specialist, said all mail will be delivered.
Staff Writer Casey Junkins contributed to this report.
This must change.
We must ban guns on federal property!!!.....oh wait
Hunting for what?
I heard about this story on my local news. That lady had been postmaster for a long time. Everyone knew and loved her. That is so sad.
My understanding of the law too, specially the last phrase. I just ignore the signs. "If" and when our local post offices install metal detectors I will avoid the post office too.
Local for me, too. I’m about halfway between Dallas Pike and Zanesville. And you’re right—very sad, indeed.
Impossible
I don’t believe this article.
A post office is a gun-free zone. This couldn’t possibly have happened.
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