SGT. Cory Maynard

Officer: West Virginia State Police, Sergeant Cory Maynard

Date: 6/2/2023            Location: Beech Creek, WV             FACTORS (1,2,7,15,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Timothy Kennedy

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Kennedy shot a man with a rifle, prompting the 911 call.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/29

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 3:30 p.m. on June 2, 2023, West Virginia State Police Officers responded to a 911 call of a shooting in Beech Creek in which Timothy Kennedy shot another man with a rifle.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Kennedy ambushed the officers, fatally shooting Sgt. Cory Maynard as soon as they arrived at the scene. As officers tended to the mortally injured sergeant, Kennedy fled the scene, stole a car, and attempted to elude authorities.

Reactions by the police: Law enforcement officers conducted a massive manhunt and ended up catching Kennedy as he approached their command post in a stolen vehicle, taking him into custody without any further bloodshed. 

How murdered? Sgt. Maynard was ambushed upon responding to a 911 call of a shooting.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? As a testament to their bravery, officers knowingly respond to reports of a shooting without knowing if the reports are accurate, who the shooter is, or where they may be.

Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Sgt. Maynard never had a chance to defend himself.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Kennedy was arrested within seven hours and has been charged with first-degree murder.

Miscellaneous: There is remarkably little reporting on Kennedy’s past criminal, mental health, and substance abuse history.