HINTON, W.Va. — A Summers County man on trial for first degree murder has been found not guilty.
After several hours of deliberation Thursday, the jury acquitted Benjamin Earhart, of Jumping Branch, of the charge. He had been on trial since Monday for the shooting death of Daniel Harmon in July 2022.
The shooting happened on at the intersection of Route 12 and Route 3 at Eagle Branch Road. It was a result of a property dispute involving access to the Greenbrier River just outside of Alderson.
Harmon was taken to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Earhart’s attorney, Robert Dunlap, argued Earhart shot Harman to death in self-defense.
Both Earhart and Harmon were armed at the time of the shooting.