Neighbors React to Martinsburg Shooting

MARTINSBURG, WV - Former neighbors of the 50-year-old Virginia man who was fatally shot by police officers Wednesday say Wayne Jones was "slow" and had a "mental disability."

West Virginia State Police continue to investigate the incident where Jones also stabbed an officer.

"I feel that the police had every right to do what they did because it sounds like the guy could've really endangered someone's life," says Jody Bennett, of Martinsburg.

It happened just before midnight on Queen Street when an officer approached Jones and asked if he had a weapon. He replied yes but wouldn't say what it was.

"I've always felt leery," says Polly Curtis, who works on Queen St. "I feel like there's a great police presence here in Martinsburg, but there's some odd characters as well."

The confrontation with police only escalated from there. Officers asked Jones to put his hands on the police cruiser. Police say he didn't comply to their orders, and that's when officers had to use physical force and tasered him. Jones then took out a knife and stabbed one of the officers.

Several police officers shot and killed Jones when he refused to drop his weapon.

The officer who was stabbed only suffered a minor wound and didn't need medical treatment.

Curtis says, "I salute policemen working on our behalf, but I also feel strongly that they shouldn't use brutal force, but you have to be there to know what happened."

The five officers involved in the incident are now on administrative leave. West Virginia State Police are investigating the case.