PARKERSBURG - The man shot by Wood County sheriff's deputies in March, outside his parents' home, was high on bath salts when he confronted and fired at officers. In addition to the guns Jody Wilson was carrying, he had additional weapons stored inside the house, according to evidence collected by the West Virginia State Police.
Last Friday, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Wharton, responding to a Freedom of Information Act request from The News and Sentinel, released much of the evidence and statements from eyewitnesses and those involved in the fatal, March 17 shooting of Jody Wilson.
Wilson was shot after confronting deputies outside his parents' home. The three deputies - Sgt. Brett Pickens, Cory Six and Zack Schadd - involved in the shooting were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing recently by a Wood County grand jury.
Article Photos
Courtesy of the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Photo of the weapons found lying around the house by police following the shooting of Jody Wilson, outside his parents’ home in Lubeck.
Law enforcement was summoned to Judy Wilson's home in Lubeck after she phoned 911 concerned about her son, Jody Wilson, who was experiencing paranoid delusions. Jody Wilson was shot when he went outside to confront officers. Wilson was armed with a .223-caliber rifle, containing a 30-magazine, and a spotlight.
According to the statement from Pickens, when Wilson came out the front door he was armed with the rifle and shining a spotlight around the front yard. Wilson saw officers taking up positions near the garage, Pickens said.
Wilson yelled an obscenity and "began to run from the front yard towards the three units (deputies) along the garage," Pickens stated.
According to Pickens, Wilson fired "a minimum of three rounds from a long gun."
Schadd discharged his shotgun, while Pickens and Six fired rounds from their Glock pistols. Pickens stated Wilson was struck at least twice.
He fell to the ground and was restrained by several units (deputies) as he continued to fight.
Six stated he observed muzzleblasts from Wilson's weapon, at which point he began firing at Wilson.
Schadd stated he heard a noise, turned around and observed a subject in front of the garage armed with a "long gun and a waving a flashlight around."
Schadd stated Wilson was given several, loud verbal commands to drop the weapon, which Wilson ignored. Wilson raised his weapon toward officers, and Schadd discharged his shotgun and continued to fire on the subject until he believed Wilson was down.
Schadd told investigators he believed Wilson did discharge his weapon, but was unsure how many times.
According to the forensic evidence, Schadd fired his 12 gauge shotgun four times at Wilson. Pickens and Six fired a combined five shots at Wilson.
Wilson fired his rifle three times, according the forensics report. Crime scene photos detail the shots, including photos of the shell casings. The state police's forensic chemist also stated in her report gunshot residue was found on Jody Wilson's clothing,
"The presence of gunshot residue may be the result of firing a weapon, having been in an area where gunshot residue was present or handling an item with gunshot residue on it."
Officers testified during a pat down search, the suspect/victim was also found to be in possession of a loaded (Glock 27) handgun.
Judy Wilson made several statements to police taken in the wake of the shooting. At no time did she claim Jody Wilson fired his weapons at officers.
In her initial statement to investigators Judy Wilson stated her son was armed when officers shot, but did not think he fired.
"I saw them shoot him. I saw blood. I saw him go down. I saw the rifle in his hand, but I can't remember whether he raised it or not. I didn't see the small gun," she stated.
In her amended statement, made at 3:46 a.m., Wilson again said she did not see her son fire.
"I did not see him pull his gun up to fire at all. It was pointing toward the ground. Jody did not shoot first. If he did someone else would have been hurt. He was an excellent shot."
In a third statement, made the morning of March 18, Wilson submitted an addendum to her statement. In it she stated she never heard her son fire a shot. She said the gun Jody Wilson was carrying was point down toward the ground.
"I never saw or heard Jody fire a shot. I never heard anyone say 'drop your gun,' 'this is the police,' or anything else."
As police were heading to the scene, central dispatch advised officers there was an open line and the dispatcher could hear firearms being loaded and the suspect becoming suspicious of people around the residence.
Six told investigators after officers arrived Wilson's mother came out of the garage and informed Pickens, Jody Wilson was inside loading firearms.
"She also stated Mr. Wilson told her that he heard people outside."
Officers heard Wilson inside the house, looking for his mother.
Wilson, in her statement to officers on the night of the shooting, stated she tried to persuade Jody Wilson to leave the guns and put them down.
After officers shot Wilson, West Virginia State Trooper G.P. Honaker escorted Wilson's mother into the house. In the kitchen, Honaker said he saw a camouflage shotgun, shells and binoculars on the counter.
"I asked Mrs. Wilson if there were any other guns in the house and she stated there were several in different rooms," Honaker stated.
Honaker said Wilson led him upstairs where he saw an open gun safe. In a second bedroom Honaker reported a shotgun placed inside the doorway. A loaded magazine rifle and a box of shotgun shells were on the hallway floor between the bedrooms.
Honaker said Wilson stated, "'If I would have known this was going to happen, I wouldn't have called. I just wanted to get him some help."
Wilson also told Honaker her son was "just trying to protect her."
Judy Wilson was asked if her son had ever talked of people following him before.
Yes, she stated.
She was asked if Jody Wilson had drug problems before.
Yes, she stated.
"Our family had confronted him and he became angry. Then he has asked for help, but then he wouldn't go," Wilson told Honaker, according to his report.
Judy Wilson said her son had been paranoid for some time and had blacked out the windows in the house. She was asked if her son had ever been diagnosed with any type of mental condition.
"No. He has told me that he has tried everything cocaine, meth, at least once."
Wilson was asked if she thought her son was on drugs when the shooting happened. She told officers she had no idea.
"I just know he was paranoid. It had to be drugs," she stated.
The autopsy report states Wilson, 31, died as a result of firearm injuries sustained during police intervention while intoxicated with non-prescribed stimulant drugs.
Officers recovered 10 packets of bath salts from the scene and in Wilson's possession.
Wilson initially stated her son was protecting her, but also stated officers were doing their job.
"I guess they were. Although I told them not to shoot," she said.
"I was NEVER afraid of Jody, just afraid FOR him. He was only trying to protect his mom."
