By Sarah Plummer of the Register-Herald Reporter
One man is dead after trespassing at the Frasure Creek Mine in Kincaid, Fayette County, and a second is being questioned, confirmed Troop 6 Commander Capt. Brad Mankins.
Troopers from the Oak Hill detachment of the West Virginia State Police were dispatched to the surface mine owned by Essar Minerals around 10 a.m. on Wednesday after reports of gunshots.
Police found Johnny Johnston Jr, 31, of Kincaid, at the base of a high wall. He was dead from an apparent gunshot wound, said Mankins.
Nearby at the scene, police found mine security guard Gary Gover, 55, of Hilltop. Gover suffered nonfatal internal injuries consistent with a fall.
Witnesses at the scene told police Gover allegedly confronted Johnston and another man, Russell Walker, 31, of Kincaid, about trespassing. The confrontation allegedly turned violent, and Gover shot at the men.
According to other media reports, Gover was off-duty.
Fayette County Sheriff Office's Forensic Tech Unit and K-9 Unit assisted state police with the investigation.
State Police located Walker Wednesday evening.
This incident is still under investigation.
Requests for comments from Guardco Security, based in Belfry, Ky., and Essar Minerals were not returned by press time.
