CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County officials say they won't release the names of officers who fatally shot Patrolman Jerry Jones or Brian Good because the information would hurt the officers and their families, and because no one will be charged in the shooting.

However, West Virginia law enforcement officials routinely release the names of people who shoot others accidentally, regardless of whether they're charged with a crime.

In several cases of accidental shootings found in the Gazette archives since 2000, only twice did police not release the names of the shooter. In both cases, the shooter was a minor. In four cases, no one was charged with a crime, but police released the shooter's name anyway.

In nine additional cases, police released the name of people who accidentally shot themselves.

Police wouldn't release the names of the officers at a news conference on Monday. The Charleston Gazette has reported that besides Jones, Charleston Patrolmen Christopher Burford and Owen Morris were the only officers to fire their guns at the scene where Good and Jones were killed.

Five other officers were at the scene either when Jones and Good were killed or arrived shortly afterward: Cpl. Travis Hawley and Patrolmen Duane Fields, Anthony Gaylor, Scott Layton and Robert Welsh.

On Monday, Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford said the officers involved are going through a terrible time already because of the events of that night.

"Nobody enjoys this situation. Nobody wins in this situation. Have we got to a point where we are so callous, so uncaring?" Rutherford said. "And then to be publicly chastised for what they did to their own friend? This is terrible."

However, West Virginia law enforcement officials routinely release the names of people who shoot others accidentally, regardless of whether they're charged with a crime.

In several cases of accidental shootings found in the Gazette archives since 2000, only twice did police not release the names of the shooter. In both cases, the shooter was a minor. In four cases, no one was charged with a crime, but police released the shooter's name anyway.

In nine additional cases, police released the name of people who accidentally shot themselves.

Police wouldn't release the names of the officers at a news conference on Monday. The Charleston Gazette has reported that besides Jones, Charleston Patrolmen Christopher Burford and Owen Morris were the only officers to fire their guns at the scene where Good and Jones were killed.

Five other officers were at the scene either when Jones and Good were killed or arrived shortly afterward: Cpl. Travis Hawley and Patrolmen Duane Fields, Anthony Gaylor, Scott Layton and Robert Welsh.

On Monday, Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford said the officers involved are going through a terrible time already because of the events of that night.

"Nobody enjoys this situation. Nobody wins in this situation. Have we got to a point where we are so callous, so uncaring?" Rutherford said. "And then to be publicly chastised for what they did to their own friend? This is terrible."

In October of 2002, police in Raleigh County called a man's death while hunting a "tragic accident" and then went on to release the name of the man that shot him.

Three men were hunting together, and one accidentally shot another, mistaking him for a squirrel.

At the time, Raleigh County Sheriff's Lt. Steve Tanner described the two as "lifelong friends" who had hunted and fished together for years. "He is just absolutely devastated," Tanner said of the shooter at the time.

In a 2000 incident in Huntington, a police officer's name was released after he accidentally shot and wounded an 18-year-old man. At the time, police said the teenager was running anyway from police and was accidentally shot by an officer when the teenager hit a bush and bounced back into the officer, causing his gun to discharge.

At the time, the teenager was charged with possession of crack cocaine. The investigation of the incident was turned over to the Cabell County prosecuting attorney.

Staff writer Rusty Marks contributed to this report.

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