EVANS, W.Va. — Residents in the Jackson County community of Evans are in shock at the news of the death of Bruce Deal. Deal, the owner of the Left Fork Restaurant next door to his home, was shot dead in his doorway Wednesday evening.
“There’s no clear motivation for why Mr. Deal was killed,” said Jackson County Sheriff Tony Boggs. “However, it’s quite apparent he died of a single gunshot wound to the head without much provocation, or any.”
Authorities responded to Deal’s home in Evans around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday when his body was discovered. They quickly developed a suspect and arrested that suspect early Friday morning at a home in Charleston. Darrel “Pee Wee” Williams Jr. was picked up and charged with first degree murder.
“He’s blaming a methamphetamine high as to why he did it,” said the sheriff.
Williams was arraigned and placed in the South Central Regional Jail in Kanawha County. Investigators believe the weapon used, a .380 caliber handgun, was stolen from Williams’ father earlier in the day. Deal is Williams’ former brother-in-law.
The case has caused a shock wave in the normally quiet community. Deal was well known and well respected. Even Sheriff Boggs considered him a friend.
“He’s been in the restaurant business for years. He was running that restaurant successfully right next to where he lived,” said the Sheriff. “Everybody in the community knew who he was and as far as we know he was a very well respected citizen here.”