Deputies seek help in fatal shooting in W.Va.

August 01, 2006|by JENNIFER FITCH

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office on Monday asked for the public's help in its investigation into the weekend shooting death of a 25-year-old Martinsburg man.

Hopeton Clarke and two other Martinsburg men were shot around 3:40 a.m. Saturday outside the Miss Behaven bar at 10491 Winchester Ave., deputies said.

Tareek Clark, 25, was listed in serious condition at Winchester (Va.) Medical Center, and Gabriel McGuire, 19, was in satisfactory condition Monday, Cpl. B.F. Hall said.

All three were taken to Winchester. Clarke died later from his wounds, Hall said in a news release.

The investigation originally connected the shooting to four men stopped in a Mazda 626 on Interstate 81 in Maryland.

"It's looking more and more like they were not involved. ... (However), we're not ruling it out," Hall said.

Meanwhile, Maryland authorities have charged the four men in the Mazda with carrying a concealed weapon after a .38-caliber handgun was allegedly found in the vehicle.

The four charged were Joseph Phillip Simes, 23, of 4631 Mount Briar Road, Keedysville; Raymond Garfield Campbell III, 18, of 1009 Noland Drive, Apt. A, Hagerstown; Earnest Eugene Davis Jr., 32, of no fixed address; and Christopher Wade Embry, 22, of 1427 Kensington Drive, Apt. 301, Hagers-town.

Deputies believe there was a single shooter with a handgun and the incident stemmed from an argument about a female, Hall said. The bar was closing for the day when the shooting occurred, he said.

An estimated 20 people were inside, Hall said.

He asked that anyone with information call the sheriff's office at 304-267-7000 or Berkeley County Crime Solvers at 304-267-4999.

"We'd like (witnesses) to come forward and help us out," Hall said.

|

|

|