Trooper Faces Leg Amputation After Shooting In Eastern Panhandle

Updated on Tuesday Dec. 19, 2023 at 11:48 a.m.

One of the troopers involved in the Martinsburg shooting Sunday has lost part of his leg.

West Virginia State Police Maj. James Mitchell has verified that part of Trooper Abe Bean’s left leg had to be amputated at the Inova Fairfax Medical Center in Virginia.

Mitchell said Bean was shot in the chest, in the shoulder and took two rounds in the leg. Doctors had to amputate his left leg above the knee. Bean remains in critical condition. Mitchell said Trooper Cadin Spessert, who was shot once in the Sunday night incident, has been released from the hospital.

Mitchell said that Bean’s father, a retired state trooper, posted a message on Facebook that said his son’s first surgery lasted for eight hours from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Mitchell said the amputation came after that.

Mitchell verified that dozens of West Virginia troopers and state police from Virginia have been at the hospital to show support. Mitchell said State Police Superintendent Col. Jack Chambers visited Bean Monday. There was also a prayer service led by state police current and former chaplains.

Updated on Monday Dec. 18, 2023 at 2:25 p.m.

As of Monday afternoon, after being shot four times, Trooper A.A. Bean remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Trooper C.D. Spessert was shot once and was stable.  

West Virginia State Police Chief of Staff Major Jim Mitchell said he is hopeful Trooper Bean will survive.

“We hope that he’s going to survive it just fine,” Mitchell said. “It’s just at this point and early into the treatment, you just don’t know how things could transpire for good or perhaps, to make things more complex, but we do appreciate the prayers.”

Mitchell said when Tobias Ganey refused to open his door or come outside after an extended time of negotiations, the troopers had no choice but to gain entry. Mitchell said that’s when gunfire began.

“We won’t try to shoot someone unless we just have to,” Mitchell said. “In this case, as soon as the door was open, they received fire.”

Ganey died at the scene.  Mitchell said the warrant was apparently for Ganey committing battery against his neighbor. An incident investigation remains underway.  

Original Story

Two Eastern Panhandle State Police troopers are in the hospital after a shots-fired incident late Sunday evening in Martinsburg.

A State Police press release notes Trooper A.A. Bean was shot four times and Trooper C.D. Spessert was shot once while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a battery charge to 60-year-old Tobias Ganey.    

Just before 11 p.m., police say Ganey refused to open the door of his home. The troopers communicated with Ganey for an extended time, and finally made entry into the home to make the arrest. Ganey immediately began firing his handgun at the troopers, who returned fire. 

Ganey died at the scene.     

Trooper Bean underwent surgery for serious injuries; Trooper Spessert was treated and admitted for observation.  

Both Troopers are in stable condition this morning and the investigation is ongoing.