MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — At last report, Guadalupe Bustillos was continuing to recover and able to stand after being shot in the face last week at her downtown Martinsburg store during a robbery.
The 64 year-old is listed as stable but critical at Inova Fairfax Hospital. The incident took place last Wednesday evening around 4:30 at Lupita’s Grocery on Queen Street.
On WEPM’s “Panhandle Live” Wednesday morning, Mayor George Karos spoke about the fast response to the incident by local authorities.
“Its a good example of our police department and how they are out there protecting the public,” said Mayor Karos. “I think we are pretty proud of that.”
City Manager Mark Baldwin added that the candlelight vigil held a day after the incident shows that the downtown community is united more than ever.
“Sometimes when these things occur, its a lot of negative comments and negative images,” said Baldwin. “That vigil and the comments that came from that vigil about Martinsburg coming together and regrouping were positive for this city.”
The suspect, Clyde Patterson III, 59, waived his preliminary hearing and will continue to be held at the Eastern Regional Jail on $120,000 bond.
Story by Elias McMillan