UPDATED, 10:50 p.m. 6/03/22
West Virginia State Police have confirmed that a Nicholas County deputy and a suspect have died after a shooting Friday in Nicholas County.
Another Nicholas County deputy has been injured and was taken to Summersville Regional Medical Center, State Police said. Initial reports indicate the deputy was shot in the leg and is expected to recover.
State Police said one suspect is in custody.
The shooting incident apparently happened after the officers went to serve a warrant in a mobile home area in Birch River. Sources told Eyewitness News that the two suspects in a home opened fire on the officers.
No names have been released as officials are in the process of notifying families.
Reaction to the shooting began appearing on social media as officials and community members learned about the incident in Nicholas County.
“West Virginia mourns for a Nicholas County deputy sheriff who was shot and killed in the line of duty this evening along with a fellow deputy sheriff who was shot and injured during the incident,” the West Virginia Sheriffs’ Association said in a tweet. “More details will be released as it becomes available and proper.”
In a Facebook post, Gov. Jim Justice and first lady Cathy Justice asked all West Virginians to keep Nicholas County in their prayers.
“Our first responders are heroes,” the governor wrote. “They run to the fire to keep us safe, and we should never forget their service. Especially in moments like these, all of us should realize the obvious - just how needed our law enforcement heroes are. We should have the exact same thought every day because all of us depend on and need these heroes every moment of every day.”
Sen. Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, also commented on his Facebook page, asking everyone to “keep Nicholas County in your prayers tonight as a deadly active shooter incident unfolded."
The Charleston Police Department in a Facebook post said its "thoughts and prayers go out to our extended family at the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department and their loved ones."
ORIGINAL STORY
First responders report multiple people have been shot, including two deputies, in the Birch River area of Nicholas County.
The Wilderness Fire Department reports on its Facebook page that there was an "active shooter" incident on Birch River on Holcomb Drive Friday evening.
West Virginia State Police said scene is "very active" and multiple agencies are responding. Eyewitness News has multiple crews heading to the scene.
Initial reports indicated that there was one suspect in custody.
There was a heavy police presence at the scene, where multiple agencies have responded.
At Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital, dozens of Charleston Police Department officers had gathered. It was unclear if any of the injured deputies were being taken there.