MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Police Lt. Steve Kosek is describing the scene of a weekend murder-suicide in Moundsville as “gruesome,” and something that has left the community shocked.
Kosek revealing additional details about the Marshall County incident that occurred Saturday at 2:10 p.m. on 2nd Street.
According to the lieutenant, Nicholas White, 40, attacked Thomas McKeever, 71, with a machete while he was taking a shower. Kosek said according to witness statements, White then slit McKeever’s throat with a knife and then took his own life with a .45 caliber handgun. The gun belonged to McKeever, police said.
White and McKeever lived together in that house but were not related, Kosek said. Two other adults also live there and witnessed the attack. They called 911, according to Kosek, and the incident was ongoing as the call was received.
“They witnessed this and attempted to intervene. Both were not physically injured,” Kosek told MetroNews.
When the Moundsville police, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, and Marshall County EMA all responded to the scene, both White and McKeever were dead.
Kosek said the investigation is ongoing but there is not a clear motive at this time.
“Witnesses did state that the assailant suffered from longtime mental issues and substance abuse issues. We do not have a clear motive,” he said.
Kosek said in the 24 years he has been with the department, he’s only encountered a scene of this nature a handful of times. He said it was a gruesome scene but this is what first responders train for.
“It’s something you certainly remember but everyone that does this is trained to do that. You never know if day one on the job you’re going to encounter something like that or 20 years from now, you just don’t know,” he said.
Autopsies took place on the bodies on Monday.