MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — The Hardy County Sheriff’s Department is releasing more information about an officer-involved shooting that killed a man in Pendleton County Tuesday afternoon.
The fleeing suspect, according to authorities, was armed and “threatening to go out with a fight,” in “hail of gunfire.”
The chase started in Rockingham County, Va., and reached 100 mph on Route 33. The incident ended near Brandywine.
Authorities said the unnamed suspect, wanted on a warrant, attempted to run over multiple law enforcement officers, rammed several vehicles and tossed items from his vehicle at those in pursuit.
Several different law enforcement agencies were involved.
The Hardy County Sheriff’s Department released the following additional information:
* Multiple warnings of assault risk were provided along with the BOLO
from Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.
* BOLO was for a white male driving a maroon 1999 Jeep Cherokee, evading
Virginia law enforcement and crossing into West Virginia on Route 33
West. Suspect was reported as traveling on wrong side of roadway and at
speeds of over 100mph.
* Suspect was throwing objects out of his vehicle in an attempt to
strike police vehicles. Several police vehicles were struck by objects
thrown by the suspect, including a cracked windshield.
* Hardy County Deputies participated in the search and location of
suspect in Pendleton County.
* West Virginia law enforcement was notified that there was an
outstanding Capias for suspect, that he was in possible possession of
stolen firearms, and that was known for prior threats to law
enforcement, including that he “would go out in a hail of gunfire”.
* Suspect attempted to strike individual law enforcement officers with
his vehicle when they attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop, as
well as striking occupied law enforcement vehicles with the Jeep Cherokee.
* Pendleton County Sheriff is conducting the official investigation.
Shauna Johnson contributed to this report.