MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The man believed responsible for a shooting rampage that killed four people was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot Monday night, state police said.
Jody Lee Hunt, 39, of Westover was found in a vehicle near Everettville along the Monongalia-Marion County line not far from U.S. Route 19.
“We have a deceased male matching (Hunt’s) description with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” state police Lt. Michael Baylous told Metronews.
The victims were killed Monday morning at three locations in Monongalia County. Police identified Hunt as the shooter and began a manhunt that consumed several hours.
Hunt operated J&J Towing in Westover. One of the victims, Doug Brady, 45, operated Doug’s Towing in Westover, where Brady was shot to death Monday morning.
The bodies of Sharon Kay Berkshire, 39, of Westover, and Michael David Frum, 28, of Maidsville, were found in a home near Cheat Lake outside of Morgantown.
The fourth victim shot on Sweet Pea Lane was identified late Monday as Hunt’s cousin Jody Taylor, 43.
The victims were specifically targeted, police said.
According to an Associated Press report, Berkshire filed a domestic violence case against Hunt last month in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
A lengthy post on Hunt’s Facebook page before the shootings indicated a domestic issue preceded the shootings: “I’m deeply hurt by events that lead up to this day! Life is short. It’s not all games. Don’t play a game with one’s heart.”
Brady is survived by his wife, Cathy, along with their 21-year-old son and a daughter, 18.
Cathy Brady told the Pittsburgh Tribune her husband previously rejected Hunt’s offer to buy Doug’s Towing business.
“He’s always been jealous of Doug,” she said. “I just never dreamed he hated Doug that much.”
Taylor’s nephew, John Bolyard of Sabraton, told the Pittsburgh Tribune that Hunt drove up and confronted Taylor outside his house.
“Shot him point-blank,” Bolyard said. “And when he hit the ground, he shot him a couple more times.”
