MATEWAN, W.Va. — Hearts have been heavy this weekend in Mingo County and across West Virginia following the shooting death of State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard.
It’s been especially difficult for those who knew Maynard personally.
“Cory was a great officer, a great friend and a great person,” Williamson attorney Justin Marcum told MetroNews.
Marcum knew Maynard and said he saw him jogging in downtown Williamson just hours before he was shot and killed Friday.
“He gave me a fist bump. He goes to work. I go to work and then this stuff happens,” Marcum said fighting back tears. “It’s just heartbreaking.”
Maynard was shot after responding to a shooting call in the Beech Creek area of Matewan Friday afternoon. He was taken to Logan Regional Medical Center where he later died. His body was then taken to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
State Police searched for the gunman for about seven hours after Maynard was shot and eventually arrested Timothy Kennedy, 29, of Matewan, that evening. Kennedy was arraigned on a felony charge of first degree murder Saturday morning.
State Police released more information Saturday afternoon about the shots fired call. Troopers said Kennedy shot the victim, Benjamin Baldwin, 39, of Matewan, with a rifle Friday. Baldwin was transported to CAMC General for treatment. He is in serious but stable condition. The motive for the shooting is still unknown.
Marcum said he and Maynard grew up together. Maynard lived close to Williamson in neighboring Belfry, Kentucky.
“He would come to our church sometimes with family. We played sports together. Even though we went to different high schools, we grew up and knew each other most of our lives. When he got moved back here to Mingo County as a trooper, I’ve seen him every morning,” Marcum said.
Maynard was recognized by State Police in 2015 for saving a man’s life in the Eastern Panhandle. Marcum said it was in Maynard’s nature to do that.
“He might not have saved a person’s life every day, but he touched people’s lives every day whether it was a smile or a fist bump,” he said. “If we’re at the grocery store and I got my 8 year old son with me, he’d grab him in a headlock and tickle him on the head and just make him smile. He was that guy who just made people smile.”
Marcum said law enforcement officers have a tough job. He said Maynard risked his life every day and still had a positive attitude toward everyone he came across. Marcum said Maynard set a good example for children, too.
“Being in law enforcement and kids seeing such a great person who would carry themselves in such an awesome manner. He was very professional and would make people smile,” Marcum said.
Maynard, who was in his upper 30s, leaves behind a wife and two children and many family members and friends, Marcum said.
Maynard is the third law enforcement officer in West Virginia to be fatally shot in the line of duty in the last two and a half years. Nicholas County sheriff’s deputy Tom Baker died in a shootout in the Birch River area in June 2022. Charleston Police Officer Cassie Johnson was shot and killed while responding to a traffic complaint in Dec. 2020.
Marcum, a former state lawmaker, said he’d like to see harsher penalties for those who kill a police officer. He said he attempted to push a bill through the Legislature after the 2013 death of Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum.
“After Sheriff Crum got killed here in Mingo County, we introduced a bill to make the killing of a law enforcement officer life in prison without parole. I would love to see that bill resurrected. I think the criminal penalties have to go up for this,” he said.
The manhunt for Kennedy delayed graduation ceremonies at Mingo Central High School Friday night. Residents were urged to stay indoors until the Kennedy was captured.
Kennedy remains in the Southwestern Regional Jail without bond.
A memorial service for Sgt. Maynard is planned for Wednesday in the Mingo Central High School gymnasium, the family announced Sunday. The exact times have not been released.