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Three U.S. marshals shot in Elkins; assailant killed [one Marshal has died]
The Charleston Gazette ^ | 16 FEB 11 | By Gary A. Harki

Posted on 02/16/2011 8:26:49 AM PST by DCBryan1

Edited on 02/16/2011 8:43:34 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three U.S. marshals were shot while trying to serve a warrant in Elkins this morning. The man who shot them was then killed by law enforcement, according to sources close to the investigation.

The marshals and State Police troopers were at the home of Charles Smith at about 8:30 a.m. to serve a warrant on him for failing to appear in court on possession of drugs and firearms charges, according to sources.

After announcing that they were there to serve a warrant, officers breached the door and stepped into the house.

Smith then opened fire with a shotgun, hitting one marshal in the neck, one in his bulletproof vest and one in the arm or hand, according to sources.

A marshal and trooper then fired at Smith, killing him, according to sources. The trooper likely fired the shot that killed him, sources say.

The marshal shot through the neck was transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. His condition is unknown.

A statement from the U.S. Marshal’s office confirmed that three marshals were shot and that two were taken to a local hospital for treatment and one was transported by helicopter.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous could only confirm that there was a shooting incident in Elkins while officers attempted to serve a warrant.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: leo; officerdown; waroncops; westvirginia; wv
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To: Puppage; CodeToad
CodeToad said "We spend millions upon millions of dollars going after people with shotguns shorter than 18."

You replied: Where'd ya pull that info from?

I decided to check it out. Here is what I found.

The ATF budget for 2010 was $1.1 billion. Just 2% goes for alcohol and tobacco. Arson and explosives is 24% with the rest or more than $800 million being for firearms control .

DOJ-ATF 2010 Budget

Since they spend most of their money -72%- on firearms, it is reasonable to assume that going after sawed-off shotguns consumes many millions of dollars. After automatic weapons and gun shows, what else is there?

I think that CodeToad got this one right.
101 posted on 02/16/2011 10:01:24 AM PST by Ron/GA
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

>Elkins is way back in the hills and there are some very rough people who live there.

Elkins is a fine town. It has the same (maybe less wealthy) people as any other small town. Once in a while people lose it. Could happen anywhere.

This kind of activity really sets one on edge and even more so if you have tasted the smokeless in another situation recently in the same neighborhood.


102 posted on 02/16/2011 10:01:28 AM PST by soycd
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To: ClearCase_guy

Just for information an discussion ...

In Nov 89 Weaver sold two shotguns to undercover agents. I couldn’t find it but as I remember, Weaver admitted that he had shortened them but only to a legal lenght.

In Jun 90, frustrated that Weaver wouldn’t turn informant, charges were filed and warrants issued on Weaver for illegally shortening the barrels. Weaver claimed they shortened them after he sold them and he was being framed.

My earlier response was based on my memory but now unconfirmed ‘fact’ that Weaver admitted shortening the barrels. If Weaver did not admit that, then it is not a proven fact, only a ‘fact’ of the charges and warrants.


103 posted on 02/16/2011 10:02:42 AM PST by SeeSac
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To: freedomwarrior998

What part of the Constitution authorizes a War on Drugs and a War on Firearms?


104 posted on 02/16/2011 10:03:32 AM PST by Dead Corpse (III%. The last line in the sand)
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To: SeeSac

Weaver shortened the barrels to legal 18”. Someone else cut down the stocks. The LOA was too short at that point by around 3/8”.


105 posted on 02/16/2011 10:07:40 AM PST by Dead Corpse (III%. The last line in the sand)
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To: freedomwarrior998
We have facts, not speculation. You just don’t like the facts.

Really? just because it was in an article makes it an ironclad fact? Wow. Good to know. I will stop coming to FR for the truth and just turn on CNN and believe everything they say. I mean, if it is in a news report there can't possibly be anything REMOTELY deceptive or nonfactual.
106 posted on 02/16/2011 10:10:09 AM PST by TalonDJ
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To: freedomwarrior998

Still waiting for your details. Or are you just Evil?


107 posted on 02/16/2011 10:11:36 AM PST by Ratman83
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To: SeeSac
It was a FACT that he shortened a gun.

Well that is certainly worth killing people over. Those missing inchs were clearly a threat to all of society and civilization. Anyone that even thinks of doing that should be hung. Clearly.
108 posted on 02/16/2011 10:12:17 AM PST by TalonDJ
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To: TalonDJ; freedomwarrior998

He was there, he is going to give us full details and facts.


109 posted on 02/16/2011 10:13:49 AM PST by Ratman83
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To: TalonDJ
Well that is certainly worth killing people over.

Whatever. Now that you have had your knee-jerk response, can we go back to being civil?

110 posted on 02/16/2011 10:14:09 AM PST by SeeSac
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To: Dead Corpse
Weaver shortened the barrels to legal 18”. Someone else cut down the stocks. The LOA was too short at that point by around 3/8”.

Yes. I had to refresh my memory. Shotguns must also be at least 26" in total length.

111 posted on 02/16/2011 10:17:10 AM PST by SeeSac
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To: DCBryan1

The article indicates it was a warrant for “failure to appear”. The original charge (what he didn’t appear for in court) was possession and weapons.

So maybe the guy was pulled over for speeding, they smelled pot and found a gun in the car.

I doubt the original offense was much “heavier” that my guess, as the original charge would likely be worse.

So should cops go kicking doors down for something like this as a matter of procedure?

If they knew he was there and possibly armed, why not just wait for him to come out?

Sometimes cops actually go to the wrong place you know. Innocent folks have been killed defending against what they thought was a robbery.

Anybody can scream “police”.


112 posted on 02/16/2011 10:21:28 AM PST by fruser1
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To: SeeSac
Shotguns must also be at least 26" in total length.

According to an arbitrary edict a Federal agency had no legitimate power to be making due to the 2nd Amendment.

113 posted on 02/16/2011 10:21:59 AM PST by Dead Corpse (III%. The last line in the sand)
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To: Dead Corpse; DCBryan1

One of the marshals has died (presume it’s the one who was shot in the neck, but can’t confirm).

MORE INFO: http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/8afab65c542748ecb54f2a21cea9384a/US—Marshals_Shot/


114 posted on 02/16/2011 10:24:25 AM PST by library user (Just because you're homeless doesn't mean you're lazy.)
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To: Niteranger68
Curious if this was a “no knock” warrant. Those things will get people killed.

I agree. They are dangerous to the public and LE. They should be restricted to only cases where citizens are being held or considered in jeopardy and in broad daylight and where officers are in uniform. They should never be used by non-uniformed undercover officers or based upon tips from criminal scum or in night time raids where the public may believe they are being invaded.

Many self defense wary Americans not only train but keep firearms available to be used against break and entry situations. In the middle of the night it could get nasty in a hurry as the first tendency of many homeowners when their door is popped is to shoot first and ask questions later.

115 posted on 02/16/2011 10:25:09 AM PST by apoliticalone (US conservatism does not equal multi-national corporatism)
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To: SeeSac

See #73


116 posted on 02/16/2011 10:28:03 AM PST by Niteranger68 (Jared Lee Loughner - Disciple of Michael Moore)
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To: CodeToad; Jim Robinson; holdonnow; potlatch; PhilDragoo; ntnychik; MeekOneGOP


- First, don't be so literal stupid , it makes you look stupid liberal.

Second, the BATFE budget.

Provide proof that millions and millions (alone) of the (annual) BATFE budget is spent attempting to find persons that illegally own and use a shotgun with a barrel under 18" long.

I own a carry a circa 1898 antique single action Colt .44-40 revolver with the original 7½" barrel and I also own a pre-1898 antique Model 1876 Colt detachable skeleton stock for that same Colt Frontier Six Shooter revolver.

I also own a 36" yardstick, a number of 12" rulers, and various length tape measures.

I am not dumb enough to own and/or carry a modern post 1898 non-antique shotgun with a barrel I stupidly cut to under 18" long or a post-1898 18" barreled shotgun with an under 18" long barrel I bought or swapped for.

Be well assured that if I used said Colt .44-40 revolver to shoot at three (3) armed men with no legal warrant or cause that illegally and unlawfully broke into my residence - There would not be three (3) biped primates walking around now.

Do not make up alleged statistics or facts; that is the methodology of liberal democrats.

EXAMPLE: "Polls show that 80% of Americans are against repealing Obamacare!"

I believe Dorgan made that idiotic lying BS statement - but I could be wrong.
.
117 posted on 02/16/2011 10:28:14 AM PST by devolve (. . . . . . . . . . . . "- we*ll bring a gun!" . . alias Jimmy Quaeda Junior . . .)
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To: library user

Thanks for that. I’m waiting for the local news at the bottom of the hour to see if I can add anything else.


118 posted on 02/16/2011 10:28:17 AM PST by Roccus (Joe Biden.....America's only living brain donor.)
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To: SeeSac; Dead Corpse

But do not forget the it was ATF who entrapped him into the act.

That is why he was never sent to jail for the action on the shotguns.


119 posted on 02/16/2011 10:28:21 AM PST by Ratman83
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To: library user

Sad news.


120 posted on 02/16/2011 10:28:31 AM PST by Dead Corpse (III%. The last line in the sand)
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