Fired WV Fireman Michael Pinkerman ID’d As Deceased Suspect In Ona Shootout That Injured 2 Officers Wednesday

ONA, WV. (THECOUNT) — Sometime between Monday night and early Tuesday, Michael Lane Pinkerman II, fired 13 shots into the front bay doors a Ona, West Virginia, volunteer fire department after-hours.

Police were serving a warrant at the home of Pinkerman, 56, a former member of the Ona Volunteer Fire Department, when he opened fire on officers Wednesday.

The warrant was being served because Pinkerman was believed to have been the suspect in the firhouse shooting based on security camera footage, according to reports. The shooting damaged the structure as well as several fire trucks.

When law enforcement officials arrived, Pinkerman fired multiple shots at deputies, who came to serve a search warrant at his home along Blue Sulphur Road in Ona. The injured deputies returned gunfire fatally striking Pinkerman.

Cabell County Sheriff’s deputies Jared Cremeans and Jimmy Johnston were injured in the Wednesday night shooting.

It’s believed Pinkerman shot up the fire station in retaliation for his removal from the department, the sheriff said.

Deputies began investigating Pinkerman in connection with the fire station shooting after cameras outside the station captured a light-colored vehicle similar to Pinkerman’s at the time of the shooting. Firefighters also mentioned Pinkerman when they were asked if anyone possibly had a grudge against the department, Zerkle said, as reported by Shatter911 on Friday.

Cpl. Jim Johnston was shot twice in his back, which was protected by a bulletproof vest. Deputy Jared Cremeans was shot through one hand and through the shoulder. That bullet exited through his back. Cremeans’ other hand was struck by a bullet and a bullet grazed his head. Cremeans, who also was wearing a bulletproof vest, took at least two shots to the chest.

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Geo quick facts: Ona is a small unincorporated community along US 60 in Cabell County, West Virginia. It is situated roughly halfway between the towns of Barboursville to the west and Milton to the east. Ona is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area – Wikipedia.