MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Detectives in Morgantown are still piecing together the hours leading up to an early Sunday morning downtown shooting death.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” Monday, Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell made it clear this was not a random act but did not elaborate on the details.
“It was not a random event,” Powell said. “We believe there is reason and motive behind it involved specific to the individuals involved and we’re working on ironing out those details.”
An officer on patrol witnessed Eric Sneed, 34, walk up to a parked can in the 200 block of Walnut Street and began firing into the passenger compartment just after 3 a.m. Sneed ran from the scene but was quickly captured by police near the Chestnut Street city parking garage.
“We’re following up on some information,” Powell said. “Our detectives are still working on the motive aspect of it. I can say that I believe the two subjects were known to one another.”
After the shooting, the victims fled the scene to Ruby Memorial Hospital. Marcelius Likely, 34, died at the hospital and an unidentified woman was treated for minor injuries.
According to records, Likely was arrested in 2016 in Akron, Ohio by US Marshals for a malicious assault charge from Monongalia County. In 2018, Likely was sentenced to probation for the crime.
Sneed is charged with murder and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail without bail.
Information on Sunday’s shooting can be left for detectives by calling 304-284-7454.