Elkins Police Chief Statement on Shooting of Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre

Elkins W. Va., March 27, 2020:

EPD Senior Patrolman Daniel T. Sayre

Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett has released a statement about last night’s shooting of Elkins Police Department (EPD) Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre. Officer Sayre is in good condition at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Statement from Chief Bennett:

Last night at around 7:30 p.m., Elkins Police Department (EPD) officers responded to a call of a male subject walking around with a rifle. The location was the alley connecting First and Second streets, behind the Jennings Randolph Federal Building.

Upon contacting the subject, later identified as Jerry Lee Isner II, EPD officers ordered him to stop and put the rifle on the ground. When Isner did not comply with these commands, officers deployed a taser in an attempt to control him. Isner subsequently opened fire, striking Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre twice. Officers were unable to return fire due to the proximity of bystanders. No law enforcement officers discharged firearms during this incident.

Officers from multiple agencies provided medical attention to Senior Patrolman Sayre on scene until the arrival of Randolph County EMS. Senior Patrolman Sayre is at Ruby Memorial Hospital recovering from his injuries.

I would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this incident: West Virginia State Police, Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. ATF, Randolph County EMS, Elkins Fire Department, and HealthNet AeroMedical Services.

I would also like to thank the citizens of Elkins for the outpouring of support for Senior Patrolman Sayre and the Elkins Police Department.

• Chief T.C. Bennett