INSTITUTE, W.Va. — State police said Thursday there were witnesses to a Wednesday evening shooting that claimed a man’s life in the Kanawha County community of Institute.
Andre Leonard was shot multiple times in the 100 block of Elm Street at about 6 p.m. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later.
According to WVSP First Sgt. Michael Anderson, there was a verbal confrontation before the shooting.
“Something transpired within their conversation that caused it to either escalate or either get to this point where gunfire ensued,” Anderson said.
Leonard apparently knew his shooter.
“It’s not going to be something that was random. It’s somebody that he knows, has some type of acquaintance with him,” Anderson said.
Troopers have a person of interest and were still looking for him as of Thursday afternoon.