WV KNIFE AND GUN CLUB

(02/07/2019)
Officer Shoots Man - The Harrison County Sheriff's Office released new information Tuesday afternoon about this deadly shooting incident in Clarksburg.

On February 4, three Clarksburg Police officers responded to 1727 Hamill Avenue in Clarksburg to serve a domestic violence petition on Robert Matz, 80. Once police arrived on scene, an officer began explaining the petition to Matz, at which time he became belligerent and argumentative, including stating several times that he would kill the petitioner, according to a press release.

During this time, an officer asked Matz if there were any guns in the home, and Matz told police on several occasions that there were not any, according to the sheriff's office. At one point, Matz unsheathed a folding knife and threatened the officers, saying he would cut them, according to a press release. The sheriff's office said the officers gave several verbal commands to de-escalate the situation, but Matz disregarded them and continued to curse and threaten the officers.

Matz then walked from the living room into an adjoining bedroom and retrieved a revolver, pointing it at the officers, according to a press release. The sheriff's office said officers gave numerous verbal commands to Matz to drop the gun, but Matz continued to raise and point the gun at the officers multiple times. At that time, an officer fired his duty weapon, hitting Matz in the chest, killing him, according to a press release.

The sheriff's office said the entire incident was recorded by two separate body cameras.

During a preliminary investigation, deputies have learned that there were other incidents involving Matz, which included domestic violence and threats toward law enforcement, the sheriff's office said. Deputies also learned that Matz was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a domestic violence conviction in 2011, according to a press release.