Harrison prosecutor says Jarvisville case should start discussion

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Shaffer says last Sunday was not the first time a Jarvisville woman fired warning shots in her small neighborhood.

“I believe that the report is going to show that this has happened on a routine basis,” said Shaffer.

On Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” he defended his decision to present the case involving Tina Owens, 57, of Jarvisville to the Harrison County Grand Jury.

At this point, Owens has not been charged with anything.

However, deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department said Owens fired several shots from a .40 caliber pistol outside of her home last Sunday night after reportedly hearing noises that, she thought, were possible trespassers.

One of the shots went into her son’s home next door and killed her grandson, Williams Owens, 11, who was asleep in his bed at the time.

Shaffer, who described himself as a “Second Amendment guy,” said the incident was definitely a freak accident.  “I’m not saying that there is any criminal intent on this individual’s part that I can find at this point,” he said.

“But I think it bears discussion in the community, around the state, maybe with the Legislature as to whether we should, at least, offer some sort of instruction for people who are going to have guns in their homes.”

Responsible gun owners, he said, do not shoot blindly into the night.

“I think it’s a good case to help raise public awareness that, if you’re going to own a gun, maintain a gun and use a gun to defend yourself, your person, your property, somebody else, you’re going to have to understand how to use that gun properly,” said Shaffer.





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