By Drew Moody
For the Hur Herald
drewmoody@verizon.net
In what police described as an argument over a child custody
dispute turned deadly for a Moundsville man early last Wednesday
evening, July 26.
A single shot from a long-barreled .357 revolver killed Mark Medley, 39.
The bullet apparently struck him in the chest area.
Police said the victim was unarmed.
Mark Medley was fatally shot just 300-yards east
of the West Virginia State Police barracks Wednesday
night. He died a short time later. Witnesses said he fell
near the entrance to the trailer near Route 5.
(Photo by Drew Moody)
Everett Jennings Campbell, 33, of Sand Fork, was arrested at the
scene without incident and is being held in connection with the
shooting at the Central Regional Jail.
Medley had apparently traveled to the area with Campbell's ex-
wife. Police would not comment on the nature of the relationship
between Medley and the woman.
Police declined to release names of other parties at the trailer,
and as of Sunday the court file has not been examined.
 Campbell (left) was apprehended without incident shortly after the
shooting, according to West Virginia State Police SrTr R.P. Smith,
lead investigator.
SrTr Smith was at the WV State Police barracks on State Route 5
when a 9-1-1 dispatcher reported the 9:30 p.m. call. The shooting
occurred a mere 300 yards east of the barracks.
Gilmer County Sheriff Mickey Metz said the victim was shot
near the roadway and was still alive when he arrived at the scene.
Metz said SrTr Smith administered first aid to the victim until
ambulance crews arrived, and that Medley was conscious and speaking
with the trooper.
"He coded (died) as they were loading him in the ambulance,"
Metz said.
Gilmer County Ambulance personnel continued to
work on the victim for quite a while before transporting him
from the scene, according to Metz.
It is unknown whether the victim was revived, or when he
was officially pronounced dead.
There were apparently several people at the scene of the
shooting, including children. Police would not identify or
comment on who may have witnessed the incident.
State Police from Lewis and Braxton Counties responded
to the shooting, as well as the Gilmer County Sheriff's
Department.
According to the 2004 West Virginia Crime Report, 18
people (out of a total of 60) were murdered in the state as a result
of a domestic dispute-related situation. That equates to roughly
33-percent of all West Virginia murders that year being tied
to domestic situations.
Last year, apparently for the first time, Vermont logged
no domestic violence related deaths. In 1991 it had
22 such deaths out of 24 total murders and subsequently
instituted tough laws to combat the trend. In 2005 there were
a total of five murders in Vermont.
So far this year in Vermont there have been two murders, one
related to a domestic situation.
The murder rate in West Virginia had been steadily falling
since 1993, when those killed numbered 126, according to date
posted at  www.disastercenter.com
Murder rates in West Virginia for the past few years are as
follows: in 2001 there were 47; 2002 the number reached 75
and in 2003 there were 40.
The incidence of domestic violence murders has generally
increased and in some areas are spiking to record levels.
The Star Bulletin of Hawaii reported that five women have been
killed there in the past month in such incidents.
For more information about the Star Bulletin news report
see  starbulletin.com
| 
