GERRARDSTOWN, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department have identified the man shot and killed in an officer involved shooting Monday as Larry Warren Kipps, 62.
Kipps died after being shot in the abdomen by a deputy during a standoff at a small family farm off West Virginia 45 shortly.
Deputies responded to a call of attempted suicide shortly before 7:30 p.m. after the property owners said the man had threatened to kill himself and shoot others.
When deputies arrived the man had a number of loaded weapons in the mobile home where he lived and had allegedly shot at one of the farm owners when she tried to intervene following the threats.
Sheriff Curtis Keller said his deputies, along with West Virginia State Police, set up outside of the mobile home and attempted to wait the suspect out before firing gas into the building.
Upon entering they found that the suspect was not in the trailer, but did find 10 loaded guns, including rifles and hand guns, throughout the home.
The suspect was shot after he approached officers from a barn near the mobile home.
Keller said the man had a gun and did not respond when told repeatedly to drop the weapon.
“When you have someone who is not responding back you get really concerned about what’s going to happen,” Keller said.
The man shot at officers before being shot in the abdomen.
First aid was administered at the scene but the suspect died shortly after 10:00 p.m. while being airlifted to Innova Fairfax Hospital.
Keller said two deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation that is being headed by Sheriff’s Department Lt. Brendan Hall.
Hall said they have a lot to review.
“Mostly just doing a lot of follow up as far as witnesses, and talking with those officers also,” he said.
The man had been living in the mobile home on the family farm for about 12 years and worked as a handy man.
Authorities did not name the suspect during a press conference on Tuesday.