Shooting Death Remains Unsolved
posted 11:10 pm Mon May 26, 2008 - Campbell Co., VA
reporter:
Manuel Quinones
posted by:
Webteam
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Quiet, kind, religious. That's how friends describe a Campbell County man shot to death over the weekend. And they're wondering, along with police, why anyone would kill 69-year-old Wilbur West.
Friends found him at his home Sunday after he didn't show up for church. West was the treasurer at Lynch Station Baptist Church and a member of the men's vocal group. Friends say West was a fixture at the church who will definitely be missed.
Ruth Farries, Church Member - "We are just shocked about what happened."
It seems Wilbur West was friends with everyone he knew.
"I never heard anything bad about him, everybody loved him and we are just gonna miss him."
Church members knew West lived by himself on Leewood Road. They were protective of him and knew something was wrong when he didn't show up Sunday morning.
Donald Miller, Lynch Station Baptist Church - "Some of the men, after we got worried about him not being there, some of them went to look for him."
That's when they found West's body near the front door. Someone had shot him. It's a crime that's taking a toll on a congregation that is no stranger to tragedy.
Miller - "It's stressful. We lost our pastor a year ago and our church, think the devil really beating on the sides of it right now... but we will get through it."
They're counting on fellowship to pull them through and on investigators to find the answers.
Steve Hutcherson, Campbell Co. Sheriff's Office - "He was a great guy, a good man, and would like to find out who did this and why it happened as quickly as possible."
Farries - "He was always trustworthy, very faithful, he was the most faithful member I guess we had at church. And everybody is sad, everybody."
The men's vocal group will be losing his voice. But it's one members say they will always remember. The medical examiner says West was killed within 24 hours of being found, probably sometime on Saturday.
Police could use your help in this case. If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers (web) at 888-798-5900. Remember you can offer your tip anonymously.
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