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UPDATE: 1/31/2012 6:36 PM A proud Parkersburg South Patriot mascot is ready to fight for his school spirit and the for the right to carry his musket. "Anywhere you see the symbol of the patriot, he's carrying his gun. It's painted on the walls of the school. He has his gun with him. I feel that it's part of his uniform," Alex Burdette, the mascot wearing senior says. This muzzle loading mascot is ready to go to war for a Parkersburg South tradition. "I first realized there was a problem when at certain away games the security guards would come...

Parkersburg Police tell us the homeowner fired a shot at the man. But there's much more to this story, and more than one robber. Bobby Oliver told police a white male broke into his home through a side door and went up to the third floor. On his way back down, Oliver was waiting. He fired one shot at the burglar with his pistol, but missed. As the suspect ran away Oliver saw another man on his back porch. Both ran through the back yard. There are no leads right now, but police are hoping the community will help. "I...

MORGANTOWN, W.Va — Republican Bill Maloney said Thursday he’s ready to finish what he started last year, win the Republican primary in May and then defeat incumbent Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin in the race for West Virginia governor.

TEAYS VALLEY - Neighbors who saw a Husson's Pizza delivery driver shoot a would be assailant are praising him as a hero. Delivery driver Morgan Vandergriff pulled a concealed handgun and shot DeSean Saunders in the arm and chest after an alleged robbery attempt. "I may order from this place more often," said Sable Point Apartment resident Vinny Masi. "I like this guy. I like what he did. Vandergriff reportedly has had his conceal and carry permit for nearly 10 years, but this is the first time he's ever had to use it. That weapon is the first Husson Pizza...

The Charleston Police Department is asking for help in identifying two suspects that used a stolen credit card throughout the city. Two black female suspects had used the card back on Nov. 7 and were captured on video surveillance but cannot identify them. Some pictures from police have been attached to this story and if you have any information you can contact them at 304-348-6480.

RAND, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Neighbors in one community are being extra cautious after an alarming wake-up call early Friday morning. It was the sound of gun shots. The man who pulled the trigger damaged someone else’s property, but told deputies it happened while he was protecting his own. Click here to find out more! “I just thought it was firecrackers, but it was pretty loud for firecrackers,” Ronald Richardson, a neighbor, said. It wasn't until a deputy showed up at Richardson's door that he realized what that noise actually was. “Then I knew what had happened. Someone shot something back...

West Virginia again listed as a 'judicial hellhole'State ranked No. 3 by Cheryl Caswell - Daily Mail staff Charleston Daily Mail Thursday December 15, 2011 CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The American Tort Reform Association has again placed West Virginia at the number three spot in its annual list of "judicial hellholes." The group lists Philadelphia in the top (worst) spot, and California as number two. Other states/regions that made the list are Southern Florida, Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois, New York City and Albany, Clark County in Nevada and McLean County in Illinois. The list is put out by...

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.— About a dozen gun enthusiasts picketed Friday afternoon in front of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, but their real target was Berkeley County Prosecutor Pamela Games-Neely. Friday's picketers, all of whom wore guns, openly and concealed, belong to the West Virginia Citizens Defense League, a legislative lobbying group. They contend that the Second Amendment and West Virginia law gives them the right to carry guns on college and university campuses. The issue stemmed from the October arrest of Joshua Lee Beck, 26, a Blue Ridge Community and Technical College student and former Martinsburg correctional officer, who allegedly...

UPDATE 11/14/11 @ 5 p.m. ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway says he hopes to have the situation involving Police Chief Brent Coates resolved 'shortly', and a city leader says a decision could come as early as Tuesday. Mayor Callaway says, at this time, Chief Coates is still on administrative leave. As WSAZ.com has previously reported, someone close to the investigation says allegations of sexual harrassment have been made against Coates. Click here to find out more! Mayor Callaway says they are serious allegations, and he is not ready to release any information until "all the...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Charleston landlord held a suspect at gunpoint until police arrived Sunday after being surprised at a West Side rental unit. Kevin Comer, 35, of Charleston, was checking on an apartment he owns on West Washington Street at about 6:30 p.m. when he was surprised by a man coming in behind him, said Sgt. Eric Hodges of the Charleston Police Department. Hodges said the suspect, later identified as Gary Wayne Mullins, 50, of Charleston, was acting strangely and appeared to be reaching for a gun. At that point Comer, who has a license to carry a concealed...

West Virginia --(Ammoland.com)- As some of you are likely aware, Berkeley County Prosecutor Pamela Games-Neely sent a letter to the legislature ranting in true Sarah Brady fashion about the lack of a law preventing lawful carry of firearms on college and university campuses. Her rant requested a ban of carry on all such institutions. Thanks to Delegate Larry Kump (a true believer in your Second Amendment rights) for bringing this to our attention. Gun owners in the Panhandle had better be paying attention to this one. This truly matters to you. Law enforcement and prosecutors have, and constantly utilize a...

ORIGINAL STORY 11/2/11 @ 10:53 a.m. ST.ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police are on the scene of a shooting on Custer Street in St. Albans. Dispatchers say a man was breaking into a house, when the homeowner shot him twice in the leg. This all happened about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday. No other details are being released. We have a crew headed to the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information. UPDATE 11/2/2011 @ 11:30 a.m. ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police are on the scene of a shooting on Custer Street in St. Albans. It happened about 10:45 a.m....

BERKELEY COUNTY, W. VA - On the same day felony charges against a student who allegedly carried a gun onto campus were dropped, new misdemeanor charges were filed. On Tuesday, Joshua Beck, who holds a permit to carry a concealed weapon, faced two felony charges and a maximum sentence of 20 years for allegedly carrying his handgun on the campus of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. On Wednesday, prosecutors dropped those charges, but then filed two misdemeanor charges. "These new charges are just simply a stretch, and now the Prosecutor's office has resorted to dredging the bottom of the...

I am pleased to be able to report that yesterday, the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney's office dismissed both charges of carrying a firearm on school property that were filed over the last couple of weeks against Joshua Beck. Mr. Beck, as you will recall, is a 26-year-old student at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg who was arrested on October 13 and again on October 17 on two separate felony charges under W.Va. Code § 61-7-11a(b). Subsequent to Mr. Beck's arrest and WVCDL's initial report about his case, Mr. Beck contacted me and I agreed to represent him...

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College student disputes illegally taking gun onto campus MARTINSBURG - Individuals at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College have an anti-gun agenda, says a man arrested last week for toting a gun on campus. Joshua Lee Beck says BRCTC is trying to paint him as a bad guy. "They're only pressing this after they found out what I did for a living," Beck told The Journal Tuesday. "Their treatment of me is outrageous and unlawful. I find the allegations slanderous, outrageous and insulting." Beck, 26, of Martinsburg, has been arrested and charged twice for allegedly...

MARTINSBURG - A Martinsburg man arrested last week for allegedly carrying a concealed firearm onto the campus of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College was arrested again Monday without incident at the school on a second felony warrant in connection with a separate, firearm-related incident. The warrant issued Monday charges 26-year-old Joshua L. Beck, of Teal Road, with possession of a deadly weapon on the premises of an educational facility. Beck's arrest Monday stems from an incident on Oct. 10 when he allegedly brought a firearm into the college. According to school officials, Beck had been warned several times not...

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Blue Ridge Community and Technical College canceled classes Thursday afternoon and remained closed Friday after a 26-year-old student was arrested for allegedly bringing a concealed firearm into the school's technical center, officials said. Joshua Lee Beck of 674 Teal Road, Martinsburg, was charged with one felony count of carrying a deadly weapon onto the grounds of a college campus, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court documents. Blue Ridge CTC announced it would reopen Monday, attributing the closure on its website to "a safety concern." "At no time was there any active threat," the college said Friday evening...

MORGANTOWN, W.VA. - The No.3-ranked West Virginia rifle team defeated No. 12 Nebraska, 4667-4610, today at the NU Rifle Range, in Lincoln, Neb. The Mountaineers (2-0, 1-0 GARC) topped the Huskers (0-2, 0-1 GARC) in both guns, winning air rifle, 2354-2325, and smallbore, 2313-2285. Petra Zublasing Seniors Justin Pentz and Michael Kulbacki, junior Petra Zublasing, redshirt-freshman Thomas Kyanko and freshman Taylor Ciotola combined for the team’s scores. “Petra was the highlight, but there were a lot of good performances in there,” says coach Jon Hammond. “Overall it was a good, steady start to the season. Hopefully we will shoot higher...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Prosecutors have agreed to drop the murder charges against a St. Albans man accused of gunning down two people in August, and will not seek any more charges in the case. Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants said Wednesday that the evidence in Charlie Booker's case indicates that he shot and killed Joseph E. Miller and Billy Dodd in self-defense after the two men, carrying deadly weapons, confronted him in front of his wife and son. "He had a reasonable belief that his life was in danger," Plants said during a news conference. "Based on that, there's...

Live TV broadcast with results and comments Bad guy is leading, but they expect a long night

LOGAN, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- From victim to murder suspect to now a free man, it's a shooting investigation that's caused a lot of controversy. Jesus "Jesse" Canul was recently charged with murder after killing a person who robbed him in the Walmart parking lot in Logan. Click here to find out more! Logan County Prosecutor John Bennett tells WSAZ.com that he dismissed a murder charge without prejudice against Jesus Canul. That means the charges could be refiled at another time. Bennett says he dismissed the charges so he could spend more time investigating the case. Canul was scheduled to be...

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- Murder charges have been dropped against a Logan County man arrested last month for killing his alleged robber, though county prosecutors appear to be keeping their options open for future litigation. In a motion filed Monday in Logan Magistrate Court, county prosecutor John Bennett and Chapmanville attorney Mark Hobbs requested the state of West Virginia dismiss charges against Jesus Canul. Bennett requested the dismissal because "some aspects of the investigation have not been completed," according to court documents. Magistrate Dwight Williamson approved the motion, including a note: "prosecutor to consider indictment." Bennett was not available for comment Monday...

It’s the story that just played out in New York’s 9th congressional district special election, but could it happen in the West Virginia governor’s race two and a half weeks from now? Voters in the Mountain State will head to the polls Oct. 4 to fill the final year of now-Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D) term as governor, with acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) facing off against businessman Bill Maloney (R). Republicans and Democrats acknowledge that the race has narrowed in recent weeks, and while Democrats are still seen as the favorites, just about anything is possible in this sort...

SOUTH CHARLESTON -- At the Islamic Center in South Charleston, Imam Ehteshamul Haque spent his Thursday afternoon answering phones and preparing the mosque for services. Haque was in India during Sept. 11, but in his six years in America, he's both seen his share of suspicion and has been helping to educate about Islam. "Our practices of Islam day and night are extremely peaceful," said Haque. In a 2009 Gallup poll, 43 percent of Americans admitted to at least "a little" prejudice toward Muslims. "I believe if you study any religion you will find this problem: The mainstream is different....

FOSTER -- But some parents in Boone County are outraged after finding out there have been three real snakes found loose in Brookview Elementary in just two weeks time. Boone County Schools Assistant Superintendent Jeff Huffman says the snakes appear to be garden snakes, also known as garter snakes. Grandmother Nancy Dickens says the whole situation is a little shocking. "I would go find someone to help me get it out of there," Dickens said. "I would try to keep the kids away from it." Huffman says an exterminator has been called to the school on two different occasions this...

LOGAN, W.Va. - A man charged with murder after shooting his alleged robber could soon be released on bail. Logan Circuit Judge Roger Perry approved a $40,000 property or 10 percent cash bond for Jesus Canul at a hearing Monday. An assistant circuit clerk said she heard a group of people was pooling money to meet the $4,000 cash option. She said authorities would conduct a home study before releasing Canul. Canul is accused of killing David Abbot with a single gunshot to the head at the Logan Walmart on Aug. 22. Abbot watched Canul cash a check inside the...

BRAMWELL (WVVA) - The Mercer County Sheriff's Department has identified the suspected robber shot dead by a customer in a Bramwell convenient store -- and arrested his wife in connection with the robbery. Authorities say the robbery occurred shortly before midnight Monday at the Pop Shop convenience store in Bramwell. Police say 41-year-old David Douglas Roberts entered the store wearing a mask and pointing a shotgun. While in the process of stealing several hundred dollars, Roberts was shot by a customer in the store who was carrying a firearm. Roberts died en route to Bluefield Regional Medical Center. The customer...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Logan County man was killed outside a Walmart store after he allegedly attempted to rob another man with a knife. The would-be victim now faces murder charges after he shot the alleged robber dead. Shortly before 5 p.m. Monday, David Abbott, 37, of Chapmanville approached a man outside the Walmart store in the Fountain Place shopping center on Corridor G, according to Police Chief E.K. Harper of the Logan City Police Department. Abbott threatened Jesus Canul, 26, of Logan, with a knife and attempted to rob him, according to Harper. Sometime during the confrontation, Canul pulled...

W.Va. vocational school shuttered after meth found in building; teacher, principal chargedArticle by: HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Updated: July 25, 2011 - 7:34 PM CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A West Virginia public vocational school has been shut down indefinitely after traces of methamphetamine were found throughout the building during an investigation of the principal and a teacher. State Police Sgt. Andy Perdue said Monday that traces of the drug were found in the ducts, principal's office, hallways and bathrooms of the Boone County Career and Technical Center. Perdue says the teacher admitted he smoked meth with the principal in the...

WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) Menuard Frazier admits he doesn't come across as physically intimidating. He’s 72 years old and stands at 5’5”, but his daughter-in-law Rose Frazier says that appearance is deceptive. Click here to find out more! “I don't think they thought he was as tough as he was," she said. Frazier says three men came to his home around noon Friday and asked to use his phone. "About middle ways to the kitchen, they jumped and grabbed me," he said. Frazier says the younger, stronger men pinned him on the floor of his home on Mill Creek Road...

WHEELING - Two Ohio County men are challenging what they claim is a campaign of harassment by Wheeling police against citizens lawfully carrying firearms in the Friendly City. The city of Wheeling, its police chief and three of its officers are named as co-defendants in a 41-count civil rights suit filed by Keith Owen Campbell, and his father, Larry A. Campbell. In their complaint filed in U.S. District Court on May 11, Keith, 45, and Larry, 70, both of Wheeling, allege the city violated, among other things, their Second and Fourth Amendment rights when officers detained Keith, and temporarily confiscated...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Guns stolen or bought illegally in the Charleston area and elsewhere in West Virginia are often linked to crimes in other states. "Firearms have sort of a value all on their own because there are restrictions on who can purchase and possess them," said Joe Ciccarelli, FBI supervisory senior resident agent in Charleston. Gun trades or illegal purchases are some of the "most common things in the criminal arena." Ciccarelli said many drug users might find it useful to provide a firearm to someone in exchange for drugs or money through a straw purchase, where a buyer...

Earlier today, Chief Judge John P. Bailey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia entered an order denying the City of Martinsburg's motion to dismiss WVCDL's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality and statutory validity of Martinsburg's city building gun ban ordinance. In his order, Judge Bailey found that WVCDL had clearly established standing to sue and requested supplemental briefing on whether he should defer further proceedings on WVCDL's federal constitutional claims and direct WVCDL to separately litigate its state law claims in state court and then return to federal court to litigate its federal constitutional claims...

(CNSNews.com) - Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, the former governor of coal-producing West Virginia, is blasting the Obama administration for using the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate coal-fueled power plants out of business.On Thursday, American Electric Power company announced that to comply with a series of EPA regulations, it will close five coal-fired plants -- three in West Virginia and one each in Ohio and Virginia -- at a net cost of 600 jobs.American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states."We have worked for...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Nicholas County man was shot early Sunday after he allegedly broke into a house in Summersville. Howard Franklin Harris, of Summersville, told deputies he woke up about 12:15 a.m. Sunday to find Christopher Lynn Pino, of Ramsey, burglarizing his house. Nicholas County Sheriff Wetzel Bennett said Harris called police and held a gun on Pino while waiting for help to arrive. But Harris told deputies that Pino charged him, and he had to shoot. Bennett said Pino was shot in the head with a handgun. Bennett said Pino was taken to CAMC General Hospital in Charleston...

MARTINSBURG - Two men accused of causing the death of an innocent bystander killed during a July 20, 2008, shooting outside a local bar were indicted Wednesday by a Berkeley County grand jury on charges of felony murder, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit murder. Both Dale E. Knight, 24, whose mailing address is listed as P.O. Box 6129, Martinsburg, and 25-year-old Donzell W. White, of Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, are alleged to have been involved in the armed robbery of 24-year-old Elan Bell-Veney, of Martinsburg, outside the former Orioles Club on Mid-Atlantic Parkway near Martinsburg. During the robbery, Bell-Veney pulled...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An Alum Creek man has been arrested after neighbors allegedly found him standing over the dead body of a stolen pygmy goat while wearing women's underwear. Mark Lucas Thompson, 19, of Greenview Road was taken into custody early Monday at his home. Deputies had dealt with the man before and believe him to be mentally unstable. Thompson told deputies he had been high on bath salts for the last three days, said Cpl. Sean Snuffer, a detective with the sheriff's office. Deputy J.S. Shackelford was dispatched about 3:15 a.m. Monday to the home on Quebec Drive to...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Lawyers for the city of Charleston have asked a federal judge to dismiss a legal challenge to the city's 18-year-old gun laws. Mayor Danny Jones, Police Chief Brent Webster and the city, through lawyer Ben Bailey of Bailey & Glasser, filed a motion in U.S. District Court late last month, asking Judge John Copenhaver to throw out a suit by the West Virginia Citizens Defense League. The cities of Dunbar and South Charleston, in separate motions on April 15, have also asked Copenhaver to dismiss the WVCDL case, which seeks to overturn gun laws in all three...

The grandmother of an elementary student attacks a masturbating pedophile outside her school, chases him, and police capture the perpetrator. Great story of an individual taking care of our young at great risk for herself.

BLUEFIELD — More than 160 employees of a local bakery were informed Tuesday that their facility was ending its operations by the end of the week. Flowers Baking Co., of West Virginia, which operates near Route 52, will cease operations on March 5, Robbie Watkins, the company’s president announced in an e-mail. The closing will affect 164 employees.

<p>Developing: 3 Federal agents with the US Marshal Service were shot while serving a warrant with state and local law enforcement. One agent was life-flighted out.</p>

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The right to keep and bear arms is a controversial topic that's making its way through the West Virginia Legislature. A bill was introduced in the House Monday that would give gun owners more rights “I'm not a gun enthusiast nor am I a gun owner, but it's important to me for those who are to have this right to enhance my own personal freedom," Delegate Larry Kump, (R) Berkeley County, said. Kump supports a new bill that would increase gun owners' rights. For example, it would reduce the number of places where guns are prohibited....

BLUEFIELD — One Bluefield teenager died early Saturday morning, an adult was transported to a Charleston hospital for treatment and two other male subjects were arrested following a shootout at a West End residence. “Three suspects kicked in the back door of a residence at 119 Magnolia Street in Bluefield,” Chief J.W. “Joe” Wilson of the Bluefield Police Department said. “A gunfight ensued, and a juvenile inside the residence was shot dead.” Wilson said the juvenile was a 17-year-old male, but did not release the name of the victim. “One of the three suspects who entered the house was wounded...

HARLESTON, W.Va. -- A West Virginia gun rights advocacy group has gone to federal court to fight handgun laws in Charleston, South Charleston and Dunbar. Members of the West Virginia Citizens Defense League filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court on Monday challenging handgun laws in the three Kanawha County cities. Attorney Jim Mullins, who filed the complaint, alleges the cities' laws violate the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment right for citizens to keep and bear arms. All three cities ban the carrying of handguns on city property. Charleston also has a city ordinance requiring a three-day waiting period before...

MONTGOMERY HEIGHTS, W.Va. -- Two armed men posing as police officers broke into a Fayette County home early Saturday, and then sprayed the people inside with pepper spray, bound their hands and feet with duct tape, and tried to rob them, the Fayette sheriff said. The suspects identified themselves as state police when they broke into the residence in the Montgomery Heights area around midnight Saturday, according to a news release from Fayette Sheriff Steve Kessler. They wore dark masks and clothing with what looked like some type of police insignia on their jackets. The suspects were armed with a...

WVCDL's proposed West Virginia Gun Owner Protection Act of 2011 (PDF) (note: please see endnotes for explanation of strike-throughs, underscoring, and new or completely rewritten sections in which no formatting is used) makes wide-ranging improvements in West Virginia gun laws, including: 1. (This analysis begins at §61-7-3) Authorizes concealed carry without a license in most places: 1. The proposed revisions to W.Va. Code § 61-7-3 would authorize individuals to carry a concealed weapon without a license in all but a handful of locations, almost of which are subject to specific signage requirements (the form of the required sign is identical...

SOUTH CHARLESTON - Pay increases for educators, adding five or 10 minutes to a school day and a bill that one West Virginia senator thinks would encourage families to understand the importance of education are among the suggestions leaders in their fields believe could lead education reform in the state. State Sen. Erik Wells, D-7th District, plans to introduce a bill during the upcoming legislative session, which begins Wednesday, that would revoke the driver's licenses of parents whose children miss too many days of school. Although Wells said he won't bet it will be one of the approximately 200 bills...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A woman told police she shot a man in self-defense in a St. Albans apartment early Friday. Dana Womack said she shot Roger Dale "Nick" Cobb after he was choking her on the ground, said Capt. Games Agee of the St. Albans Police Department. Police arrived at the Kanawha Court Apartments near Washington Avenue about 12:45 a.m. and found Cobb shot in the side near his kidney. Dana Womack and her mother Onda Womack were also at the apartment, Agee said. Dana Womack told police that she came to her mother's apartment to pick her up after...

Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania was the first House Democrat to stand and defiantly call out his vote against Nancy Pelosi’s bid for minority leader on the first day of the new Congress Wednesday. But Altmire’s willingness to defy the liberal Democratic leadership does not translate into support for the Republican drive in the House to repeal President Obama’s health-care bill next week, even though Altmire voted against the bill last year when it passed. Rep. Heath Shuler, the North Carolina Democrat who challenged Pelosi for the minority leader position and received 11 votes, also voted against the health overhaul...

SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- What started with planning a break-in ended with one family planning a funeral. West Virginia State Police say Stephen King, a man in his 20s, broke into the Scott Depot home of Jeff Walker. Troopers say Walker's dogs alerted him of the intruder. ADVERTISEMENT "He heard the dogs, he saw a gentleman standing there who had a handgun, his handgun was raised," W.Va. State Police Sgt. K.S. Dickson said. "Mr. Walker, who was an avid sportsman and hunter, raised his gun and shot the man." Troopers say it was a self-defense situation -- that Walker...