Phillips
ELKINS — A Randolph County man was charged with murder Tuesday after a fatal shooting in the Heavener Acres Trailer Court Monday afternoon.
Melvin Phillips Jr., 62, is being held without bond in Tygart Valley Regional Jail. He is charged in the death of Mark Wirth, 67.
“On Monday at approximately 3:40 pm, officers of the Elkins Police Department responded to 36 Heavener Acres for a reported shooting,” Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett stated in a press release Tuesday. “Upon arrival, EPD officers located Mark Wirth suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
“The suspect, Melvin Phillips Jr., was located at the scene and immediately taken into custody without any further incident. Wirth was transported to Davis Medical Center by Randolph County EMS, where he later died.”
Bennett also noted in the release, “Preliminary investigation shows that this incident began as a dispute between neighbors that escalated into the shooting.”
According to the criminal complaint, Phillips told police Wirth had harassed him and another individual with a knife. Police found Wirth “laying on the front porch” with “what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his facial area.” Officers also found a “small knife” by Wirth’s head, the complaint states.
During the disagreement, which took place outside, Phillips went inside his residence and got a firearm, according to the complaint. Police later located “the firearm used in this incident” on a trash can.
Phillips said Wirth had been harassing him and another individual, but told officers he could not recall exactly what Wirth was doing when he came outside with the firearm, the complaint stated.
When officers arrived on the scene, they provided aid to With by “starting chest compressions,” according to the complaint.
Bennett added, “This incident is being investigated by the Elkins Police Department. I would also like to thank the West Virginia State Police, Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, and Randolph County EMS for their assistance.”
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