Police interviewing 3 in connection with pastor's shooting

WAYNE -- Authorities are interviewing three people in connection with the shooting death of the Rev. Mark McCalla and have seized a vehicle with a New York license plate.

According to officers, police began surveillance of a residence at 32 Idle Acres at about 9 a.m. today. Police conducted a raid of the residence at about 4:30 p.m. Police received an anonymous tip from a resident after the resident read a report of  the case in a newspaper this morning.

There have been no arrests, but three people are being interviewed.

According to Sgt. Chet Maynard of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, one of those being interviewed is the son of the resident at 32 Idle Acres. The son is a veteran of the Iraq War and was at one time stationed at Fort Drum in New York. Police are searching for two more people who were at one time stationed at Fort Drum and are believed to have been staying at the residence. One of them is reported to have a mohawk hair style.

The other two people being interviewed volunteered to answer police questions.

Authories said air resources were used as part of the operation.

Officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, and the Huntington Violent Crimes Task Force are involved in the operation.

According to Maynard, police confiscated a large amount of clothing, a computer, about 6 long guns, 2 shotguns and 3 or 4 pistols.

Maynard said one of the guns owned by McCalla may match one of the guns confiscated in the raid.

A state forestry worker found McCalla's body at the rifle range. The 48-year-old from Huntington died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe the shooter fired in close proximity to McCalla. After the shooting, his body was dragged about 20 yards.

The shooting took place in a secluded area. Wayne County Sheriff David Pennington does not believe anyone witnessed the attack.

Pennington said detectives are checking with rental car companies in the region to locate the vehicle with New York tags.

McCalla, an avid outdoorsman, was pastor at Highlawn Presbyterian Church in Huntington. Mourners attended his funeral Monday.

The victim's wife, the Rev. Pamela McCalla, released a prepared statement this week to The Herald-Dispatch. She expressed thanks to the community and a desire to know answers.

"I never imagined at the time that I would have to rely on that kindness and support because of the murder of my husband," she said of the community. "I would like to face the person who did this senseless act to ask for an explanation ... to explain away the void in our family, his church and this community. I cannot think of a single good excuse for this person's actions."

Pennington said the victim's outdoor hobbies included firearms. He owned several firearms, including rifles and handguns.

Two of McCalla's guns and a wallet were taken from the crime scene, Pennington said. State police divers searched a nearby lake Monday and Tuesday for the missing items to no avail.

Investigators have not said if one of the missing guns was used in McCalla's death.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is tracking the serial numbers for McCalla's guns. Pennington said the bureau already identified the number for one of the missing guns. That number was placed into a national criminal database.

Investigators also are checking pawn shops for the missing firearms.

The ATF, State Police and the sheriff's department continue working the case with other agencies. Pennington would not identify those agencies for fear it would lead to speculation about the case.

The motive for the fatal attack continues to baffle investigators. Pennington said they have several leads pointing in different directions but would not elaborate. He said no evidence connects those theories to a possible motive.

"One would assume it was a robbery without knowing anything else, but I don't know everything yet," he said. "We have a lot of work to do. The leads are coming in slow. They are positive leads, and it just takes time to do an investigation of this kind. You can't be too careful when investigating a murder."

Pennington said detectives are analyzing many pieces of evidence. He hopes that gives better direction to the investigation.

Investigators are reviewing recent reports of stolen guns at the rifle range. County and state authorities received similar reports in the past few months. They indicate guns were stolen as the victims replaced paper targets at the range. Deputies have not linked those reports to McCalla's death.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bell

Police executed a raid at about 4:30 p.m. at 32 Idle Acres in connection with the shooting death of the Rev. Mark McCalla. Police seized a vehicle with New York plates as part of the raid.