By Bob Weaver
Protests continued this weekend in front of the Roane County courthouse against Roane Deputy Mike King, with family members and friends claiming 28-year-old Timothy Rhodes should not have been shot.
The Roane County Sheriffs Department says Rhodes engaged Deputy King in a scrape, with Rhodes attempting to take his gun.
King has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.
Rhodes' funeral is set for Monday in Spencer.
See  ROANE SUSPECT DEAD IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING NEAR WALTON
GROUP PROTESTS OFFICER SHOOTING OF ROANE MAN
By Bob Aaron for WCHS News
About 30 people protested outside of the Roane County Courthouse Tuesday over a fatal officer-involved shooting, saying they do not trust the investigation.
None of the demonstrators saw the confrontation between a Roane County deputy and 28-year-old Timothy Rhodes last week that ended in Rhodes death.
Roane County Sheriff Todd Cole says a deputy, now identified by sources as Mike King, fatally shot Rhodes on Friday after Rhodes reached for the deputy's gun during a struggle.
The protest drew family members of Timothy Rhodes, his friends and people who simply didn't like the officer involved in the shooting.
"I think that the family of the victim have a right to know the truth is. That investigation needs to be carried out by somebody that has nothing to do with police enforcement in this county," said protester Morgan Cottrell.
King, who is also the Clendenin Police Chief says he's is not allowed to comment while the State Police probe is underway.
Friday night the sheriff said Rhodes refused to obey the deputy's command while he was investigating a complaint about rocks thrown from the spinning tires of a truck in driveway off Amber Ridge Road that ended in a struggle for the deputy's weapon.
"There was a struggle. Both the deputy and the suspect ended up on the ground. They got back up and back down on the ground and at that time the suspect grabbed a hold of the the deputy's shotgun and at that time the suspect was shot," said Roane County Sheriff Todd Cole.
Protesters alleged a history sometimes excessive force complaints, but the sheriff backed his man.
"These guys do a great job. I'm just thankful the officer is OK and that everything worked out," Cole said.
But some of Rhodes' family members disagree.
"No, I don't. Don't believe a word of it. If there ain't justice done today and for Timmy . It's just going to happen again," said Lorene Hackney, Rhodes' Grandmother.
The only other witness to the shooting, a woman in the truck with Rhodes, was not present at the demonstration.
State Police investigators have not yet finished their work. They plan to turn the results over to the county prosecutors to make a determination if the shooting was justified.
About 30 people protested outside of the Roane County Courthouse Tuesday over a fatal officer-involved shooting, saying they do not trust the investigation.
Timothy Rhodes, 28, was shot and killed Friday evening by a Roane County deputy, Roane County Sheriff Todd Cole said.
Cole said Rhodes was spinning his wheels and kicking up rocks in a neighbor's driveway. When deputies responded to the complaint, they approached Rhodes, who they said became aggressive.
Cole said Rhodes then lunged at the deputy and brought him to the ground. During the struggle, Cole said, Rhodes reached for the deputy's gun. The deputy then fired a shot at Rhodes, killing him.
The deputy has been placed on leave.
West Virginia State Police are continuing to investigate and said the probe is not complete.
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