WEST MILFORD, W.Va. — Three people are facing charges of felony fleeing following an incident that carried over into West Virginia from the Columbus, Ohio area.
JaBraelyn Bunn, 20, of Canton, Ohio, Jacob Hunter, 18, of Massillon, Ohio, and Jada Hilton, 18, of Canton, Ohio, were arrested Sunday after a carjacking that ended in gunfire.
A fourth suspect, whose name is not being released at this time, died from a gunshot wound after pulling a weapon on Harrison County Sheriff’s deputies.
The incident began early Sunday morning, when the suspects carjacked a vehicle in the Columbus, Ohio area and headed east toward West Virginia.
“The vehicle obviously left the Ohio area, and Ohio (police) entered the license plate into the license plate reader as a wanted vehicle,” Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said. “That vehicle passed a license plate reader along the interstate, and we received information that it was headed into our jurisdiction.”
Deputies encountered the vehicle on Interstate 79 and attempted a traffic stop. The suspects continued to flee and started a pursuit, exiting the interstate at exit 110 at Lost Creek.
After several miles, the driver of the carjacked vehicle spun around and drove straight the toward the deputies, who were able to backup and evade a crash, Matheny said.
“As (the deputies) were pursuing them through Lost Creek and out 270 toward West Milford, the people inside the vehicle were firing shots at the pursuing deputies,” he said. “Deputies didn’t return fire at that point. They chased them into West Milford, and the vehicle went to the end of a dead end street.”
At that time, the suspects then exited the vehicle, and deputies began a nearly 10-hour manhunt on foot.
The first suspect, who is now deceased, was caught about 30 minutes later.
“The guy ended up on the bridge and was confronted by a deputy,” Matheny. “As two deputies were trying to take him into custody, that’s when he pulled a weapon, fired a shot and the deputies returned fire.”
He was then transported to United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, where he was later pronounced dead.
The three remaining suspects were arrested just before 5 p.m. Sunday.
“It was a citizen’s tip that led us to apprehend the remaining three,” Matheny said. “They saw some people moving through some yards and called. We were able to coverge on them, and we were able to arrest Hunter and Hilton at that time.
“Bunn fled from us again, but shortly thereafter we were able to arrest him,” he said. “They were all arrested without incident.”
No deputies were injured in the incident.
Sgt. M.A. Kiddy of West Virginia State Police is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
During the manhunt, residents of the West Milford area were advised not to answer their doors for anyone not clearly identified as a law enforcement officer and to immediately call 911 of any suspicious activity.
“It certainly turned that little community upside down (Sunday). A big part of the concern was the unknown,” he said. “We didn’t know what their intents were, what their capabilities were, and so it was a stressful day for the citizens of that town.
“We were glad that we were able to get them apprehended, and get that little town safe and back to their normal routine.”