Williamson Man Arrested for December Shooting

Suspect charged with two counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:36am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a spent shell casing from a handgun, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic about a recent arrest for a reckless shooting incident.A recent arrest for a reckless shooting highlights the need for strict accountability when firearms are involved, even without physical injury.Williamson Today

A 48-year-old Williamson, West Virginia man named John Carey has been arrested and charged with two counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm after a December 2025 shooting incident where a bullet fired from his apartment traveled into an adjacent unit.

Why it matters

Wanton endangerment charges are serious offenses that can carry significant prison time, especially when a firearm is involved. This arrest highlights the importance of thorough investigations by law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for reckless actions that put the public at risk.

The details

According to state police, on January 15, 2026, Trooper J.T. Kitts of the Williamson Detachment was requested by the Mingo County Prosecutors Office to investigate a shooting that occurred on December 19, 2025 on Pike Street in Williamson. With assistance from the West Virginia State Police Crime Scene team, Kitts determined that John Carey discharged a firearm from inside his apartment building and the bullet traveled into an adjacent apartment.

  • The shooting incident occurred on December 19, 2025.
  • On January 15, 2026, Trooper J.T. Kitts was requested to investigate the shooting.
  • On March 27, 2026, Kitts obtained and served arrest warrants on Carey.

The players

John Carey

A 48-year-old man from Williamson, West Virginia who was arrested and charged with two counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm.

Trooper J.T. Kitts

A state trooper with the Williamson Detachment of the West Virginia State Police who investigated the December 2025 shooting incident.

Mingo County Prosecutors Office

The local prosecutor's office that requested the state police investigation into the shooting.

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What’s next

Carey is currently being held at the Southwestern Regional Jail and will await arraignment on the charges.

The takeaway

This arrest demonstrates the importance of thorough police investigations to hold individuals accountable for reckless actions involving firearms that endanger public safety, even when no one is physically harmed.