Listen Now: Morning News

Police chief: High Street homicide ‘has nothing to do with WVU’ students

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With a man behind bars accused of murder, Morgantown detectives continued determining events that led to the fatal shooting in a downtown alley Thursday night.

Lemir Baker-Moore, 21 of Morgantown, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after a man was killed and another injured on the 200 block of High Street around 9 p.m.

Witnesses told police Baker-Moore opened fire in the side street near Dollar General as the murder victim and Baker-Moore’s acquaintance David Annonio, 21 of Morgantown, were fighting.

“The fire marshal was going down High Street and observed the altercation, pulled over to deal with it and call for police assistance. As he was getting out his car, shots rang out. He was able to also provide us a good description of vehicle as well,” noted Ed Preston, Morgantown police chief.

The slain man, whose name was being withheld pending notification of his family, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A wounded Annonio and the suspect’s car were discovered on Brockway Avenue less than two hours after the shooting. Annonio underwent treatment for a gunshot wound to the leg.

“We’re still working and processing,” he chief said. “We had a house to do a search warrant on and process, the vehicle to process and we finished the processing on High Street early this morning.”

As detectives sought to determine a motive in the homicide, they ruled out several scenarios.

“This incident has absolutely nothing to do with the clubs in the downtown area. This one has nothing or little to do with alcohol. This has nothing to do with the students. This has nothing to do with WVU,” said Preston. “This has to do with bad tempers, poor choices and over-aggression.”

Because Thursday is a popular night for patrons at downtown clubs and venues, investigators had dozens of people to interview.

“A lot of witnesses, a lot of area for us to actually process. We had officers have to go to the hospital. We went to Brockway Avenue. We had High Street. We had officers at the station. Just by the sheer number of people involved, even from a witness stand point, we were taxed pretty good,” Preston said.

Baker-Moore could face a life sentence.





More News

News
Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department closes
The Dunlow VFD did not have a valid workers compensation insurance policy.
March 29, 2024 - 1:23 am
News
As Yeager Airport's Wildlife Patrol Dog turns 7, a new dog comes in to learn from him
The new Border Collie is getting acclimated and receiving training for his soon-to-be role.
March 28, 2024 - 6:30 pm
News
PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court
Carli Reed sentenced on voluntary manslaughter conviction.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm