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In the 2/26/03 Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail:
Investigator says shooting justified
A Nitro police officer who shot a suspect armed with a knife responded correctly and should be exonerated by an investigation, a Putnam County Sheriff's Department officer said.
"It was clean," Chief Deputy John Dailey said. "He didn't do anything that you or I wouldn't have done."
Nitro Cpl. Bob Smith shot Richard Gladfelter of Nitro early Sunday morning after Gladfelter allegedly charged at him with a knife, according to magistrate court files.
Smith twice warned Gladfelter to stop advancing toward him with the knife before he shot the suspect in the abdomen, records stated.
The shooting occurred after Smith arrived at Gladfelter's home to investigate a domestic violence complaint, records stated.
When Smith arrived, Richard Gladfelter was allegedly threatening his father, Dennis Gladfelter, with a knife. Dennis Gladfelter was fending off his son's attacks with a broom handle, records stated.
Richard Gladfelter, brandishing the knife, allegedly threatened Smith and challenged him to come down to the basement, records show. When Smith refused to come down, Richard Gladfelter started coming up the steps and Smith shot him, records show.
Richard Gladfelter was taken to Charleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital where he was treated and released Monday, hospital spokesman Andy Wessels said. He was charged Sunday with domestic assault and assaulting a police officer.
