MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Berkeley County Sheriff Curtis Keller has identified the three people killed in a double-murder suicide Monday night.
According to Keller, Cierra Hammons, 29 of Inwood, and Adam Carter, 43 of Winchester, Va., were shot and killed by Christopher Marchitelli, 45, of Culpepper, Va. Marchitelli then turned the gun on himself.
The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Ladder House Bar & Grill at 2209 Charles Town Road east of Martinsburg.
Authorities responded to the scene around 10 p.m. Monday after someone reported hearing gunshots.
The Ladder House released a statement Tuesday morning about the incident. The bar confirmed Hammonds was one of its employees.
“The Ladder House family is heartbroken today. Last night a planned and devastating act of domestic violence took place in our parking lot that resulted in 3 shooting deaths. The lives of 2 people were senselessly cut short by another, who then turned the gun on himself.
The Ladder House will be open regular hours today and 100% of today’s profits will be donated to the children of our friend and employee, Cierra, who was one of the victims of last night’s tragedy.
We are determined to tell this horrible story to shine a light on the tragic effects of domestic violence, because it touches us all in unexpected ways. Following this, the Ladder House will be organizing fundraisers to raise awareness and benefit victims of domestic violence.
Come in to talk about this horrible tragedy, let’s band together like the family we are, to help these 2 kids who just lost their mom and to raise awareness about domestic violence and the people it hurts.”
The case remains under investigation.