On a summer evening in Bluefield, West Virginia, the life of 22-year-old Joshua Rasnick, a Caucasian male, was tragically cut short. On July 11, 2019, Rasnick was shot and killed in a deadly act of gun violence that unfolded near Stoney Ridge Road. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m., prompted an immediate investigation by the Mercer County Sheriff's Department.
Responding to a call from Rasnick's girlfriend, law enforcement began a search for the person responsible.
Their investigation led them to another 22-year-old Bluefield resident, Timothy Paul Hager. State Police troopers located Hager in a wooded area, initially taking him into custody on unrelated charges which included battery of an officer, obstruction, and fleeing on foot.
As the investigation into Rasnick's death progressed, authorities charged Hager with second-degree murder. It was determined that an AK-47 was the weapon used in the fatal shooting. The subsequent legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for Joshua Rasnick's family and friends as Timothy Paul Hager was found guilty of second-degree murder for his role in the killing.
