DUNBAR, W.Va. — A Kanawha County man is dead after being shot with his own gun during a domestic call involving police.
Officers with the Dunbar Police Department went to the home on West Virginia Avenue Wednesday night to serve a domestic violence petition on Rick Wilcox, 65, of Dunbar. The petition was issued earlier in the day and required him to leave the residence.
Upon seeing authorities, Wilcox locked the door and retreated into the house. Relatives provided police with a key and they entered. Investigators said those relatives warned officers Wilcox might be armed.
According to investigators Wilcox came down the stairs as officers entered, the ran back upstairs and officers pursued him. A scuffle ensued upstairs as police attempted to take him into custody and Wilcox pulled a handgun. During the struggle the gun went off and struck Wilcox in the torso.
Wilcox was taken to Thomas Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Dunbar Police Chief Jess Bailes requested the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department to handle the investigation. Bailes confirmed an interval investigation into the incident is also underway. Nobody else was injured in the struggle.