Police seeking persons of interest in deputy’s shooting

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
BLUEFIELD – Police are seeking two people of interest following the early morning shooting of a deputy sheriff.
Tazewell County Sheriff H.S. Caudill said officers are seeking Scottie Stinson, a white male in his mid 20’s and Roxie Shortt, a female also in her mid 20’s. The sheriff said both are from Tazewell County.
He stressed they were just “person’s of interest.’ He said Stinson is the step son of the owner of the white Mitsubishi being driven by the man who shot Deputy Eric Mullins. The sheriff said the owner of the vehicle called after hearing the description and tag number broadcast. The owner told officers he let his step son start driving the SUV about a month ago.
He said Shortt is an acquaintance of Stinson.  Bluefield police located the SUV around 9:40 a.m. in back of a shopping center at the corner of College Avenue and Leatherwood Plaza.
Bluefield College, just across the road from the shopping center was locked down as was Bluefield WV. Middle School located on Highway 460 just above the intersection. A canine unit was brought to the scene and tracked to the edge of the college campus but did not go onto the campus.
The Virginia State Police have taken charge of the investigation into the shooting of the deputy. Sgt. Michael Conroy said investigators from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations had impounded the vehicle and would go over it for evidence. Conroy said his officers obtained the photos of the suspects but would elaborate on where the photos came from or whether the suspects had criminal records.
Police believe the vehicle was used in two armed robberies around five a.m. Oct. 19. The first took place at Double Kwik at Claypool Hill and is being investigated by the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office.
The second happened around 5:40 a.m. at 67 Grocery in Richlands and is being investigated by the Richlands Police Department. Richlands Police Chief William Puckett said his officers believed the suspects headed toward Jewell Ridge and the search was headed that way when the shooting took place. Bluefield Police Chief Harry Cundiff said the SUV was stopped near Graham Middle School at 6:47 a.m.
He said Patrolman Josh Wright of his department was assisting Deputy Eric Mullins, who had the vehicle stopped. Wright was approaching on the passenger side and returned fire on the vehicle after hearing a pop.
Mullins was shot twice when the driver pointed a gun out the window of the vehicle. One shot was stopped by a bullet proof vest and the other struck his hand. The SUV fled the scene and another Bluefield officer pursued it to the WV. line before losing track of it.
Police were searching the area around the shopping center and the college. Off duty deputies and town officers were being called in as were tactical units from the state police and other counties.
Helicopters from the Virginia State Police were flying in the area as well. Police said they were not able to confirm whether or not the suspects had another vehicle.
Richlands Police Officer Gary Childress, who was injured in an automobile accident en-route to assist in the search for the shooters’ is in stable condition. Puckett said.