PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A man well known to local law enforcement remains at large in Wood County with a warrant for his arrest for a murder charge. Victor Lee Thompson, 43, is wanted for the shooting death of Darren Jimmie Salaam, 36, of Akron, Ohio.
“We’ve known him for a long, long time since the late 90’s. He’s a violent individual and we still believe he’s dangerous and we believe he’s still armed with the same pistol he used in this homicide,” said Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin.
According to investigators Thompson showed up at a home on 17th Street in Parkersburg around 2 a.m. Sunday and forced his way in. Once inside, Martin said Thompson engaged in an argument with a woman who lived there and eventually hit her in the face with a pistol. The encounter brought Salaam into the fray and he was eventually shot.
Police say Salaam, wounded, made his way out a window and later died at a local hospital. Thompson exited out the front of the home according to witnesses and hasn’t been found. Martin said they have information to indicate he’s still in the area of Wood County or possibly Washington County, Ohio.
Investigators think the incident was a botched robbery attempt.
“We executed a search warrant after the shooting and located illicit drugs. We think it was some sort of a robbery of either drugs, cash, or both, but robbery isn’t being ruled out as the motive at this point,” said Martin.
Martin asked anybody knowing the whereabouts of Thompson to contact local law enforcement and remember he is considered armed and dangerous.