Wheeling Police Chief: ‘Not Going To Rush’ Shooting Probe
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WHEELING -- The investigation into the shooting death of 35-year-old Tyrone Thompson on Wheeling Island continues, Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said Friday -- and it could continue for a while longer.
Thompson was shot and killed around 7:30 p.m. March 19 on South Huron Street on Wheeling Island. The suspected shooter was questioned that night, cooperated and has not been charged with a crime. Schwertfeger has not released the suspected shooter's name because no criminal charges have been filed against him.
Wheeling Police detectives are still investigating several angles, Schwertfeger said, including a possible self-defense situation. While it has been nearly two weeks since Thompson was killed, Schwertfeger said that isn't a long time in terms of cases like this.
"Two weeks isn't a time I think is very long when it comes to (investigating) the death of an individual," Schwertfeger said. "… I would expect another 30 days, at a minimum."
Among the reasons for that, Schwertfeger said, was that the full autopsy report, including a toxicology report, has not been made final. Toxicology reports take time, he said, and he believes Ohio County prosecutors will want that full report when investigators ultimately take their findings to them.
"In this case, I think the autopsy report would be paramount," Schwertfeger said. "(The prosecutors) are going to have questions that only the autopsy report can answer."
Meanwhile, Schwertfeger said investigators are tracking down any possible lead, including ones they find on social media.
"We live in an age where social media becomes involved," he said. "So we monitor that and we have to chase down every single post that makes an allegation, or that someone is hearing or seeing this, that or the other. So that's the bulk of the work right now.
"(Thompson's) family deserves to know," Schwertfeger added. "They don't want to see or hear of a rumor or post that could end up being a fact that hasn't been vetted."
Investigators have talked to several witnesses, Schwertfeger said, and they're still looking for more audio or video that would either corroborate or refute any of the statements they've received from those witnesses.
If charges ultimately are brought in the case, that will come after the WPD presents its findings to Ohio County prosecutors. Investigators have talked to prosecutors during the process, Schwertfeger said, including the night of the incident.
"In this case, there will be a sit-down with the prosecutor's office when we believe we have everything, when we've chased down everything we believe we can get our hands on, and those decisions will be made by that office."
Investigators also have been in touch with members of Thompson's immediate family, Schwertfeger said, and continue to be in contact with them, informing them as much as possible without potentially jeopardizing the investigation.
In the end, Schwertfeger said, he wants to make sure that police investigators have looked at all possibilities and come to an accurate conclusion.
"I have a duty as the chief of police to present a thorough and accurate account and factual evidence," he said. "We're not going to rush it. We're going to make sure we get it right.