In relation to the murder of State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard, a Mingo County man has been charged.
At the Mingo County Courthouse in Williamson, Timothy Kennedy, 29, of Matewan, was charged with first-degree murder during a video hearing on Saturday morning.
In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, state police claimed that Kennedy had used a rifle to shoot Matewan resident Benjamin Baldwin, 39, before troopers arrived. A hospital in Charleston is caring for Baldwin.
Police say they are still looking into a possible motivation.
Kennedy is being detained at the Southwestern Regional Jail without bail.
Maynard was fatally injured, according to the troopers, after they responded to the initial call on Beech Creek Road. He passed away at Logan Regional Medical Center after being brought there. Around seven o’clock on Friday night, Gov. Jim Justice announced Maynard’s passing.
Kennedy was apprehended by state police following a seven-hour manhunt. Friday night about 10 o’clock saw his arrest.
The manhunt forced Mingo Central High School to move its Friday night graduation festivities to Saturday morning. The public was advised to remain indoors until Kennedy was apprehended.
On Friday evening, the body was brought to the state medical examiner’s office. On Saturday, it was moved to a center for organ donation.
With the killing of Maynard, West Virginia has had three fatal police officer shootings in the previous 2.5 years. On June 3, 2022, a year ago today, Deputy Tom Baker of Nicholas County was shot and murdered in the Birch River region. Officer Cassie Johnson of the Charleston Police Department was shot and killed in December 2020 while attending to a parking complaint.
On Saturday, responses to Maynard’s passing poured in from several states. Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky, was interested in Maynard since he grew up close to Williamson in the nearby town of Belfry, Kentucky.
Beshear wrote on Twitter that he was “heartbroken” and that Maynard was “a hero who sacrificed everything to make our communities safer.”
I was heartbroken to hear that West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard was tragically killed last night while protecting his community. He was a hero who sacrificed everything to make our communities safer. 1/2
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) June 3, 2023
In 2015, State Police presented the Life Saving Award to Maynard. He saved the life of a man who was being chased in the Eastern Panhandle.
In a statement issued on Saturday, State Senate President Craig Blair commended Maynard for his actions:
“When Sgt. Maynard was a young member of the Eastern Panhandle State Police, he received the Lifesaving Award for his selfless deeds. Throughout his career, he kept demonstrating the virtues of compassion, fearlessness, and service. We will never forget his ultimate sacrifice in support of his neighborhood and our folks, Blair stated.
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The Senate joins Governor Justice and West Virginians from all throughout the state in praying for Sgt. Maynard’s family, friends, and coworkers in law enforcement, the statement continued. We thank each of you for your dedication to your communities and the State of West Virginia and pray for the safety and protection of all first responders in West Virginia.
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