Trooper Bean continues recovery after December shooting

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A state police trooper who was injured after being shot four times during a December continues to make progress.

Injured Trooper Abe Bean and family. (Submitted photo)

Brian Bean, the father of Trooper Abe Bean, issued a statement to MetroNews Wednesday.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported our family during this time. We appreciate the kindness our community has shown us, and have been blown away by all the generosity. Abe is getting stronger and stronger every day and is eager to recover,” Bean said. “Our family is truly grateful.”

A photo accompanying the statement shows a smiling Abe Bean, his girlfriend and their child. Bean lost his leg as a result of the shooting.

Bean and fellow Trooper Cadin Spessert went to a home on Connell Street in Martinsburg at around 10:50 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17 to serve an arrest warrant for Tobias Ganey. Ganey, 60, had been fighting with his neighbor and allegedly hit him.

Bean investigated and told Ganey he would be charged with misdemeanor battery. When Ganey, 60, refused to come out of his home, troopers went in and Ganey fired at them. Troopers returned fire and killed Ganey.

Spessert, who was shot once, quickly recovered from his injuries, while Bean had to be hospitalized for several weeks. Bean’s left leg had to be amputated as a result of his injuries. He also had surgery on his arm.

Trooper Bean has been with the West Virginia State Police since Feb. 2020. Spessert joined in 2021.

Story by Jeff Jenkins, published at wvmetronews.com