Former Ona volunteer firefighter opened fire on deputies
FirefighterNation Staff
ONA, West Virginia – The suspect in the shooting of Cabell County firehouse died in a shootout with deputies according to WOWK.
Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle said two of his deputies were wounded while executing a search warrant for stolen property at the residence of Michael L. Pinkerman, Jr. at approximately 6:30 p.m. on October 30.
Pinkerman Jr. was suspected in the shooting of the Ona Volunteer Fire Department firehouse earlier in the week. The shooting took two of the department’s three vehicles out of service due to damage.
Tanker Out of Service after Shots Fired at West Virginia Firehouse
Zerkle said Pinkerman Jr. was dismissed from the fire department earlier. Video from the firehouse linked a vehicle out front at the time of the shooting to Pinkerman Jr.
When deputies arrived to serve the warrant, Pinkerman Jr. opened fire from inside the home wounding two deputies. Pinkerman Jr. was killed.
Both deputies were wearing ballistic vests and were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both are expected to make a full recovery.
The suspect’s father, Michael Pinkerman Sr. was also injured as he was blocking the entrance into the home, according to Zerkle. Pinkerman Sr. was taken into custody and charged as an Accessory to Commit a Felony.
He is being held in Western Regional Jail on a $300,000 bond.
