CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Two longtime fixtures in the community of Clarksburg will be remembered and laid to rest Friday, a week after they were tragically shot and killed.
A funeral service is scheduled at 11 a.m. at the Davis-Weaver Funeral Home in Clarksburg for Freddie Swiger and his son, Fred Swiger, from Harrison County.
The father and son carrier team were tragically shot and killed last week Friday while delivering newspapers after what police are calling a drug deal gone bad. The man charged in the shootings, Sidney Muller, allegedly killed two men inside a home on Locust Avenue over drugs and then ran into the Swigers outside.
“From a human standpoint it’s a senseless event that took place,” said Rev. Jim Dittmar, who will be presiding over Friday’s services. “It makes no sense that a person coming out of a house would shoot two innocent folks in the street.”
Family and friends will gather to remember two people who had faithfully delivered newspapers, seven days a week, for 30 years. Dittmar, pastor at Warren Baptist Temple in Warren, Ohio, said Fred and Freddy were great guys who always wanted to help.
“They would take along their lawnmower on their paper route and if there was somebody who said they needed their lawn mowed, those guys would be willing to do it,” said Dittmar. “If someone said hey, can you help me carry this or move this, they would be willing to do it.”
Dittmar said the Swigers were troopers.
Both men will be laid to rest following the service at the Lumberport Lions Cemetery. Dittmar said it’s going to be very tough for the family, but they will get through it.
“I know that this is a strong family, they have a lot of connections, they have a lot of support from their community and I know the Lord’s there for them,” he said. “I have no doubt that they are going to come out of this stronger, it’s going to take awhile, but they’re going to come out stronger than before.”
Visitations and a candlelight vigil for the Swigers were held Thursday evening. Freddie was 70-years-old and Fred was 47-years-old.