Woman charged with attempted murder after her husband was shot

May 2—By GREG JORDAN

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

ROCK — A Mercer County woman was arraigned Wednesday on felony charges including first-degree attempted murder and malicious wounding after her husband was shot early that morning during a domestic altercation.

Jessica Diane Lilly, 43, of Rock was arrested and charged on the felonies of attempted first-degree murder and malicious wounding as well as a misdemeanor domestic battery charge, according to a criminal complaint filed by Deputy J.W. Lucas with the Mercer County Sheriff's Department.

Deputy Luscas responded along with Lt. W.E. Rose and Deputy A.M. Presley to 120 Cobra Lane in reference to a report about a man being shot in the Rock area of Mercer County.

"Upon our arrival we observed the male subject lying face down on the ground with an entrance wound that looked to be from a small caliber under his left armpit area," Lucas said in the criminal complaint. "We then held pressure on the wound until EMS arrived on scene. While performing lifesaving measures we were able to identify the victim as Russell Blaine Lilly. After EMS arrived on scene EMS took over the lifesaving measures and we continued our investigation."

The investigators spoke with Jessica Lilly.

"Jessica advised she was inside the residence when she heard a single gunshot and came out of the residence and saw her husband laying on the ground," Lucas said. "We then spoke to Russell who advised that a black car was sitting at the end of the driveway and he got shot."

Witnesses near the home said they heard arguing outside but could not make out what was being said. This argument stopped when a single gunshot was heard. One witness told the deputies that he had seen a Heritage .22-caliber revolver a week earlier in Russell Lilly's pickup truck, Lucas said in the criminal complaint.

Lucas said that he detained Jessica Lilly and transported her back to the Mercer County Sheriff's Department where she requested to have an attorney present. Two juveniles living at the Lilly home were taken to the sheriff's department and Child Protective Services was contacted.

Lucas later went to WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital to speak with Russell Lilly.

"Russell was alert and oriented at the time I spoke with him," Lucas said in his complaint. "Russell advised he was in pain and could not give a statement at this time."

A search warrant for the Lilly home and a Chevrolet Silverado was obtained and signed by Magistrate Keith Compton. The search warrant was served around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

"A .22-caliber revolver was found hidden under the bathroom sink and a 20-gauge shotgun was found behind the couple's bedroom door," Lucas said.

Neither of the firearms seized were believed to be the weapon involved in the shooting, he said.

"Warrants are being requested for Russell Lilly for felon in possession of a firearm," Lucas said. "Russell has a felony conviction of wanton endangerment from 2017."

Jessica Lilly was later arraigned by Magistrate Susan Honaker and remanded to the Southern Regional Jail on a $20,000 cash-only bond, according to records at the Mercer County Magistrate Clerk's Office.

Attempted first-degree murder carries a possible sentence of three to 15 years in prison, according to the West Virginia Code. Malicious assault has a possible prison term of one to five years and misdemeanor domestic assault has a penalty of up to 12 months in jail.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com