TUPPERS CREEK, W.Va. — A Boone County man, wanted as the suspect in the death of his roommate, took his own life along Interstate 77 in Kanawha County Saturday morning, authorities said.
Boone County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chad Barker tells MetroNews his office got a call about the death of Edward Crose, 46, of Ashford, at just before midnight Friday. His body was found in his home by family members but his roommate, Shane Adkins, 25, and Crose’s vehicle were gone.
Adkins had family members in Ohio and Barker said they alerted police in several counties to be looking for the vehicle.
“We knew of the town that he had family in. We believed strongly he was headed in that direction,” Barker said.
The vehicle was spotted by a Wood County deputy on state Route 47 at around 5:30 a.m.
Adkins refused to stop and the pursuit continued southbound on Interstate 77 through Wood, Jackson and Kanawha counties with Adkins shooting several rounds out of the driver’s side window at police, according to Barker.
“He did fire several shots during that section of the pursuit,” he said.
Kanawha County deputies were able to stop the vehicle with spike strips near the Pocatalico exit. Adkins then killed himself, Barker said.
“Before the officers could approach or take any measures there was a single gunshot from the suspect–taking his own life,” he said.
Barker said there’s still a lot to do with the investigation.
“He took an innocent man’s life and then you have the pursuit, the crime scene, that spans three or four different counties and multiple jurisdictions,” he said.
All lanes of Interstate 77 were reopened by 9:20 a.m. Saturday.