August 28, 2012
State trooper killed, another wounded in Roane shootings
Deputy, wrecker driver shot; suspect killed in shootout
Kenny Kemp
Numerous law enforcement officers responded to the scene of a shooting that claimed the life of a state trooper at the Wallback park and ride off Interstate 79 near the border of Roane and Clay counties.
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For a story about slain State Police trooper Marshall Bailey, click here

WALLBACK, W.Va. -- A State Police trooper was killed, another trooper was in critical condition and two other people were shot in an incident Tuesday night at the Wallback park and ride off Interstate 79 in Roane County.

The shooter -- Luke Baber, 22, of Oak Hill -- was shot and killed shortly afterward by sheriff's deputies.

Cpl. Marshall Lee Bailey, a resident of Poca, was killed in the incident. Trooper Eric Workman was critically wounded. He is in a coma and is on life support, State Police Cpl. J.R. Smithers said at a news conference this afternoon.

In addition to the two troopers, a Roane County sheriff's deputy and the driver of a wrecker truck were also shot.

Police had received reports of a white Chevrolet Silverado driving erratically on Tuesday evening. The report came from Nicholas County, Smithers said, but authorities in Clay and Roane counties were also notified.

At about 8 p.m. Tuesday, Bailey and Workman stopped Baber's vehicle at the park and ride near the Wallback exit. Baber was handcuffed by the troopers, and they called a tow truck to take away his vehicle, Smithers said.

Before the tow truck arrived, Baber managed to pull a concealed gun from somewhere and shoot both Bailey and Workman, Smithers said.

Bailey died at the scene. Workman remained in critical condition this afternoon, according to a nursing supervisor at CAMC General Hospital.

Once the tow truck driver, William "Frank" Massey, arrived, Baber shot him as well, Smithers said. Baber then fled the scene on foot.

Sheriff's deputies from Roane and Clay counties found Baber, who engaged them in a shootout, Smithers said. Baber was killed, and Roane County Sheriff's Deputy John Westfall was wounded.

All of the wounded were taken to CAMC General. Massey was treated and released. Westfall remained there this afternoon after surgery, Smithers said.

Roane County Sheriff Mike Harper said Westfall, who has been with the department about six months, also works part-time for the Spencer Police Department.

"He's going to be fine," Harper said of Westfall. "He took one [bullet] in the abdomen, but he had his vest on, which I believe saved his life."

The sheriff said Westfall's body armor kept the bullet from doing serious damage. Westfall was also shot in the arm and hand, Harper said.

Smithers said Baber was shot multiple times, and it wasn't clear which deputy or deputies shot him.

In December 2009, Baber was arrested by Fayette County sheriff's deputies after he threatened his parents with what turned out to be a BB gun. During that incident, Baber told deputies he pulled the gun in an attempt to get officers to kill him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fayette County Magistrate Court.

According to the complaint, Baber's mother called 911 and said her son was threatening both of his parents. When deputies arrived, they found Baber being restrained by his father on the floor, with the BB gun under him.

Baber would not cooperate with deputies and refused to let them put handcuffs on him, resulting in a struggle, according to the complaint.

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