Man who previously attempted suicide shot by state trooper

Two months ago, the victim was piloting a boat that was run over by a barge and killed his two kids. Despondent, he jumped off a bridge a few days later ... and lived.
Only to be shot three times - by what I think will be revealed to be an overzealous - state trooper.

From the Charleston Gazette:


Jackson man killed in police call

Family disputes State Police version of fatal shooting by trooper


By Davin White
Charleston Gazette Staff writer

A state trooper on Saturday shot dead the same Jackson County man who had jumped off a bridge spanning the Ohio River in June, just days after his two children died in a boating accident.

Family members disputed the State Police account of the shooting late Sunday, claiming the trooper shot Fisher “in cold blood.”

A trooper assigned to the Jackson County State Police detachment shot Michael Shane Fisher, 35, of Windell Ridge Road in the Fairplain area, at about 11:11 p.m. Saturday, according to a State Police news release.

State Police Sgt. S.E. Wolfe said the trooper would not be identified by name Sunday. Wolfe said the trooper has 81/2 years experience and will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after this type of incident.

The trooper was responding to an unrelated call when he heard gunshots coming from the area of Fisher’s residence, according to the release.

The trooper investigated the gunshots and encountered Fisher, who refused to drop his weapon “at the Trooper’s lawful commands,” according to the release. An investigation into the incident is pending.

Jill Fisher, Michael’s wife, said he was firing shots in the air just to let off steam. Since his children died in the June boating accident, “he does it all the time,” she said.

“He didn’t mean to hurt nobody,” said Johnny Haynes, Jill Fisher’s father.

Jill Fisher said when her husband realized a State Police cruiser was approaching the house, he “slung the gun” to his right before walking toward the trooper with his hands in the air.

Her nephew, 15-year-old Dustin Haynes, alleged that the trooper started firing his gun at Fisher even as his vehicle was still moving.

“He about got me; that’s why I had to jump out of the way,” Dustin Haynes said.

Jill Fisher said she yelled, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” Fisher’s 10-year-old daughter and her niece, 9, also stood nearby, she said.

Dustin Haynes and Jill Fisher alleged the trooper then left the cruiser and stood over Fisher, shooting him three times at point-blank range.

“Six [bullets] went in him and three hit the house,” Jill Fisher said.

Jill Fisher also criticized efforts to revive her husband. She alleged, for instance, that a HealthNet helicopter was prematurely called off.

Fisher’s young children, Jesse Fisher and Samantha Fisher, and his sister-in-law, Jennifer Posten, died in a boating accident in heavy fog on the Ohio River near Ravenswood around 2:10 a.m. on June 23.

Michael Fisher was steering the boat when it collided with a barge. His wife and brother-in-law, Roger Posten, also survived the accident.

Two days later, Fisher jumped from the William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge in Jackson County after about 45 minutes of negotiations with police, Jackson County Sheriff Michael Bright said in June. He survived a fall of between 75 and 100 feet, Bright had said.

After interviews with family members, a second attempt to contact Wolfe was unsuccessful.

 

can't imagine a more horrifying story