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Three U.S. marshals shot in Elkins; assailant killed [one Marshal has died]
The Charleston Gazette ^ | 16 FEB 11 | By Gary A. Harki

Posted on 02/16/2011 8:26:49 AM PST by DCBryan1

Edited on 02/16/2011 8:43:34 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three U.S. marshals were shot while trying to serve a warrant in Elkins this morning. The man who shot them was then killed by law enforcement, according to sources close to the investigation.

The marshals and State Police troopers were at the home of Charles Smith at about 8:30 a.m. to serve a warrant on him for failing to appear in court on possession of drugs and firearms charges, according to sources.

After announcing that they were there to serve a warrant, officers breached the door and stepped into the house.

Smith then opened fire with a shotgun, hitting one marshal in the neck, one in his bulletproof vest and one in the arm or hand, according to sources.

A marshal and trooper then fired at Smith, killing him, according to sources. The trooper likely fired the shot that killed him, sources say.

The marshal shot through the neck was transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. His condition is unknown.

A statement from the U.S. Marshal’s office confirmed that three marshals were shot and that two were taken to a local hospital for treatment and one was transported by helicopter.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous could only confirm that there was a shooting incident in Elkins while officers attempted to serve a warrant.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: leo; officerdown; waroncops; westvirginia; wv
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To: thefactor
What if you know you did not show up to court on some serious charges? Wouldn’t you be expecting the cops to show up? Or would you just assume they were imposters and begin poppin caps?

I'm not the dude the Marshal's were after so I wouldn't know. I'm a law-abiding citizen so I have no reasonable expectations that anyone would have a legal reason to enter my house unannounced and by force.

My issue with no-knock warrants is how many times these dingleberries have busted into the wrong house, either by their own stupidity or by bad information. I would expect any LEO who is genuinely concerned about going home to his/her family that night would take serious issue with this practice.

121 posted on 02/16/2011 10:41:34 AM PST by Niteranger68 (Jared Lee Loughner - Disciple of Michael Moore)
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To: Niteranger68

Especially by people who have weapons’ charges against them.


122 posted on 02/16/2011 10:41:53 AM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: library user

No confirmation on local news yet.


123 posted on 02/16/2011 10:43:30 AM PST by Roccus (Joe Biden.....America's only living brain donor.)
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To: unixfox

Read much? The article clearly states that the officers announced themselves before entering.


124 posted on 02/16/2011 10:46:14 AM PST by brothers4thID (http://scarlettsays.blogspot.com/)
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To: All

Charleston Daily Mail confirms Marshal’s death

http://www.dailymail.com/policebrfs/201102160590


125 posted on 02/16/2011 10:58:01 AM PST by Roccus (Joe Biden.....America's only living brain donor.)
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To: library user

Let’s just say that someone in my family thinks lying about me to hide their own sin is OK. And in my family, gossip and triangulation is rampant. No one ever asks me if a story one of the other of them tells, is true. Not once my whole life. It is a very sick dynamic that can’t be undone. The rest of them like it this way.

It is very painful, and I ask God for the strength to continue to forgive them.


126 posted on 02/16/2011 11:00:01 AM PST by TruthConquers ( Delendae sunt publicae scholae)
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To: tumblindice

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127 posted on 02/16/2011 11:00:51 AM PST by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: brothers4thID
Read much? The article clearly states that the officers announced themselves before entering.

Announcing you are the police and then immediately breaking the door down, IS a no-knock warrant.
128 posted on 02/16/2011 11:03:32 AM PST by ZX12R
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To: freedomwarrior998

Yes. Profound stupidity makes me angry, but its OK. I tend to forget morons very quickly.


129 posted on 02/16/2011 11:05:48 AM PST by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: DCBryan1
The marshals and State Police troopers were at the home of Charles Smith at about 8:30 a.m. to serve a warrant on him for failing to appear in court on possession of drugs and firearms charges

If I had been in the LEOs shoes, I think I would have been a bit more careful when breaching the door.

130 posted on 02/16/2011 11:05:48 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (America has two cancers - democrats and RINOS.)
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To: library user

I just heard that on the top of the hour news break.


131 posted on 02/16/2011 11:07:30 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (America has two cancers - democrats and RINOS.)
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To: Niteranger68
The percentage of wrong-house no-knocks are negligable when compared to properly served warrants. So don't belive the hype. Just because you read a couple articles a week around here about these instances does not mean it's an epidemic. People don't write articles about all the warrants that go off without a hitch.

If I were you (which I'm not) I would be a lot more worried about actual criminals breaking into your house. The chances of that happening are a lot higher than the cops mistakenly hitting your door. So if you have done nothing wrong, shoot away.

132 posted on 02/16/2011 11:12:53 AM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: freedomwarrior998; Ratman83; Robbin; Lee'sGhost
Speculation is gossip. Gossip is evil. Period.

It’s good to see that you don’t believe in  gossip. 

133 posted on 02/16/2011 11:17:50 AM PST by TankerKC (Confucius say, he who rushes to vote on bill before reading, might forget severability clause.)
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To: thefactor; Niteranger68

I think even one is more than should be allowed. Remember we are innocent until proven guilty.


134 posted on 02/16/2011 11:20:32 AM PST by Ratman83
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To: ZX12R

Really? What agency/ department do you work for? Because no-knock warrants for Feds = silent approach and full assault entry with no announcement of intentions until breach.

Now it is entirely possible that the journalist who wrote this news item has incorrectly reported facts or, intentionally or otherwise, used language which can be construed in several different ways. Did the officers announce their presence clearly and appropriately? Did they give the suspect enough time to reasonably answer the door? Were proper procedures followed upon entering the residence?

All of those questions are sure to be asked during what is undoubtedly going to be a long investigation. Hopefully the truth will come to light.

What we should know right now is that a man is dead and a US Marshall either critically injured or deceased due to this incident. Making comments about jack-booted thugs, Ruby Ridge, and no-knock warrants is neither respectful of the dead or helpful to the social debate of the larger issues.

Finally, I would hope that all those here vocally supporting a citizen’s God-given right to defend his home would have the common sense to learn some trigger discipline and target identification skills before keeping a loaded shotgun lying around. Identify the intruder, determine intent, and if, and ONLY if, hostile intent is clearly evident, aim for center of mass. If you cannot perform those actions reasonably quickly and calmly, then you have no business “defending” yourself. You are more likely to injure yourself and innocent others than help the situation.


135 posted on 02/16/2011 11:20:38 AM PST by brothers4thID (http://scarlettsays.blogspot.com/)
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To: PastorBooks

Indeed!.....I’m just wondering to myself IF they hadn’t “breeched the door” in favor of just say “surrounding the house”, perhaps that alternative tactic might have resulted in the officer and the shooter still breathing”..................JUST ASKIN...........!!!

Would be interesting to hear from somebody “that knows something”............... “Why?” arrests like this are handled in this manner? I mean, sooner or later a bunch of cops are going to barge through somebody’s door and ok corral begins!! So, why do it?? Just askin!


136 posted on 02/16/2011 11:22:47 AM PST by Cen-Tejas
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To: brothers4thID; ZX12R

A lot of what you say is true but.

“Making comments about jack-booted thugs, Ruby Ridge, and no-knock warrants is neither respectful of the dead or helpful to the social debate of the larger issues.”

Ruby Ridge, and no-knock warrants is germane to the thread.


137 posted on 02/16/2011 11:26:51 AM PST by Ratman83
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To: TankerKC

That was a reported fact. Just like the warrant here. There is a difference between commenting on reported facts in a story, and completely making stuff up because you hate the police.

By the way, Ad hominem tu quoque is a logical fallacy.


138 posted on 02/16/2011 11:28:11 AM PST by freedomwarrior998
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To: thefactor

You shouldn’t post facts like that here... the liberaltarians and “sovereigns” will get upset because the facts conflict with their agenda.


139 posted on 02/16/2011 11:30:22 AM PST by freedomwarrior998
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To: freedomwarrior998

Still waiting for the rest of the details, eyewitness.


140 posted on 02/16/2011 11:33:11 AM PST by Ratman83
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