BOMONT, W.Va. — A Clay County man is expected to be charged with three counts of attempted murder of a police officer when he’s released from a hospital after he allegedly shot at three troopers Friday afternoon in Clay County.
Denver Rucker Jr., 68, of Little Queen Road in the Bomont area, allegedly fired the shot from a shed as the troopers approached him to talk about marijuana found growing on his property. Troopers took cover and believe Rucker then ignited a propane tank that exploded. Rucker was burned.
The troopers who were close to the heat from the explosion were checked out but were not seriously injured. They say the bullet Rucker fired went right between two of them.
“It appears they would have been justified to return fire,” State Police Sgt. O.S. Starsick told WSAZ-TV. “If they would have returned fire with the amount of gas, what we believe to be propane, it could have ignited the explosion right there in very close proximity that could have taken lives or caused very bad bodily harm. So, we believe the good Lord looks after us.”
Rucker is believed to have been badly burned. Troopers spotted the marijuana from the air earlier this week.