Senior Trooper Larry Gene Hacker

Larry Gene Hacker

Trooper Larry Hacker was shot when he responded to a domestic dispute.

Trooper Hacker and a state police trooper trainee were answering a complaint call about 10:00 PM from a neighbor of the shooter. The shooter had parked his truck on Ritchie County Route 9-9 and blocked the complainant from reaching his house. After blocking the roadway he had retreated to a knoll where he could watch the truck. After the officers arrived, a gun battle ensued, lasting between 20 and 30 minutes. The shooter then would not let paramedics near Trooper Hacker for about an hour after the shooting. Trooper Hacker was flown out about 11:30 PM, after the gunman fled, to Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds about 1:00 AM.

The suspect was taken into custody about two hours after the shooting in a nearby wooded area. He was charged with murder but committed suicide while in jail.

Trooper Hacker was assigned to the State Police detachment in Harrisville and had recently transferred from the detachment in St. Marys. He was survived by his wife and two children.