HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, W.Va. — The Hampshire County community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of 71-year-old Michael J. Bacha, whose life was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting Wednesday afternoon in the Slanesville area. What began as an ordinary day in a quiet rural community quickly turned into a devastating tragedy that has left family members, friends, and residents struggling to process the sudden and violent loss.
According to the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, 911 dispatchers received a call at approximately 1:58 p.m. on May 13, 2026, reporting a man with gunshot wounds outside a residence off Redstone Mountain Court near Spring Gap Road. Deputies and West Virginia State Police troopers responded to the scene and discovered Michael J. Bacha lying face down outside the home. Authorities later confirmed he had been deceased for several hours before a neighbor located him and contacted emergency services.
Investigators say the situation quickly escalated into a large-scale manhunt after authorities learned the suspect had fled the area on a 4-wheeler into the heavily wooded terrain behind the residence. Officials identified the suspect as 83-year-old Robert Allen Shartzer, who was believed to still be armed with a handgun during the search. Due to the rugged landscape and dense woods surrounding the area, multiple agencies joined the operation, including Maryland State Police Trooper 5, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office K-9 units, and Hampshire County drone teams.
After several hours of searching, deputies located Shartzer around 7:22 p.m. riding a 4-wheeler along an old logging road during a UTV-assisted search operation. Authorities said he was taken into custody without incident. Investigators also recovered a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun from a storage compartment on the vehicle. Officials stated that Shartzer later admitted the firearm was used in the shooting.
During the investigation, authorities learned that Bacha had reportedly come to Shartzer’s home earlier that day to assist him with transportation to an eye appointment. Investigators say the suspect claimed a disagreement escalated following prior disputes between the two men, leading him to retrieve a firearm and shoot Bacha multiple times outside the residence. Authorities confirmed that Bacha was unarmed at the time of the shooting, and investigators found no evidence of a physical altercation before the gunfire erupted.
The tragic death of Michael J. Bacha has deeply affected the Hampshire County community, where loved ones remember him as a kind and helpful man who was simply assisting someone he knew in his final moments. Authorities continue to investigate the case while Shartzer faces a murder charge. As family and friends mourn an unimaginable loss, many throughout the community are reflecting on the devastating impact of violence and holding tightly to memories of a man whose life ended far too soon.
