Top-ranking officials called the death of a West Virginia State Police trooper senseless, evil and sad Monday as they struggled to understand why it happened.

“This was senseless,” West Virginia State Police Maj. Jim Mitchell said. “There was no need for this. There was no need to take a young man away from his family. There was no need for two children to lose a father or a wife to lose her husband.”

Investigators said Sgt. Cory Maynard was shot during an ambush as he sought Timothy Kennedy for another shooting that injured Ben Baldwin in the Beech Creek area of Mingo County on Friday.

“They were immediately fired upon by the suspect, and it was an ambush type of shooting – meaning it was in a secluded, rugged area,” Mitchell said.

The incident was followed by an exchange of gunfire, a massive search, Maynard’s death and Kennedy’s capture in a stolen vehicle at a roadblock hours later.

More charges are expected to be filed against Kennedy. He remains jailed without bond.

Funeral plans for Maynard are set for 3 p.m Wednesday at Mingo Central High School. Mitchell is set to officiate the services.