Labor Day shooting suspect and victim were in long-running feud, police say

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department has identified the man who was shot on Labor Day as Brandon Christoff.

Christoff is in fair condition at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, spokesperson Amy Johns said.

He was allegedly shot by Kenneth Ray Stevens, 56, on Landis Lane, which branches off Booth Run Road and is just west of the River Road Volunteer Fire Department, around 6 p.m., Monday.

Stevens is charged with malicious assault. He was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court Tuesday where bond was set at $40,000 by Magistrate Darris Summers.

He posted that bond in the form of property.

Chief Deputy Al Kisner said Stevens has been involved in a feud with the Christoffs for “years.”

On June 6 Stevens was charged with assault and obstructing an officer after deputies were dispatched to a dispute between he and Christoff.

According to a criminal complaint Stevens called police and said his neighbor, Christoff, was threatening him with “a chain saw in one hand and a gun in the other.”

Both men were yelling when deputies arrived and Christoff said Stevens hit him in the head with a stick so he pulled a gun to defend himself.

Video confirmed Christoff’s account and showed Stevens swing what appeared to be a wooden broom handle at Christoff’s head.

Stevens said he did not go near Christoff and denied trying to hit him with a stick, the complaint stated.

Christoff was charged with violation of a protection order July 24 after Stevens showed deputies footage of Christoff throwing debris at Stevens and his house, a criminal complaint said.

Stevens had a person safety order against Christoff that orders Christoff not to have any direct, indirect, or harassing contact with Stevens until 2020.

Story by William Dean





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