West Virginia State Trooper Fatally Shot in Apparent Ambush Attack

Ohio’s neighbors to the east are in mourning following the ambush-style killing of a State Trooper.

West Virginia State Police Sergeant Cory Maynard was shot and killed on Friday afternoon after being ambushed while responding to a shooting call in West Virginia’s Mingo County.

West Virginia State Police Chief of Staff James Mitchell spoke to reporters with WSAZ earlier this week.

"It takes a special person to do this kind of job," said Mitchell. "That happened on Friday. We continued to work on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The work never stops. We continue to push forward in spite of whatever we face or whatever we go through."

Mitchell said Sergeant Maynard was a 15-year veteran of the West Virginia State Police.

"He was very committed to the State Police - to the mission of the State Police and his job as a Trooper, and he was extremely committed to that," said Mitchell. "He treated everyone the same. It didn't matter what your social status was - what your position in the community was, it made no difference to him."

The suspect in the fatal shooting, identified as Timothy Kennedy, 29, of Matewan, WV, pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder during a bond hearing on Tuesday morning. His bond was denied.

Sergeant Maynard leaves behind a wife and two children. A Go Fund Me page has been setup in his family's honor, which, at the time of this report, has raised nearly $57-thousand.

A memorial for the fallen officer is set for Wednesday at the Mingo Central High School.