WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The Williamson Fire Department reports a team of divers from their agency located what’s believed to be the murder weapon from a 2020 homicide in Mingo County.
In a post to the department’s Facebook page, the department reported its dive team recovered a hammer from Laurel Lake in Mingo County Wednesday while working in coordination with the Williamson Police Department. The hammer is believed to have been used to kill John Jackson at his Elm Street apartment in Williamson May 16, 2020.
Jackson was killed and investigators said his assailants set fire to his apartment to cover their tracks.
Two members of the Williamson Fire Department were injured fighting the fire in the three story apartment building.
The Mingo County grand jury returned indictments on three individuals last month. The indictment charges them with Jackson’s murder, arson, and other charges. Information developed in the course of the investigation led Williamson Police to believe the murder weapon–a hammer–was tossed into Laurel Lake soon after the crime.