FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Bail is set at $1 million each for two men who led police on a chase between Clarksburg and Fairmont that included a third suspect being shot by police.
Suspects identified as Wilber Chicas, 26, and Jeroenne Carballo, 20, both with out of state addresses, were arraigned Friday morning in Marion County Magistrate Court. The pair and a third man, Luis Lebron, 25, fled police in Clarksburg at about 6 p.m. Thursday evening. The pursuit continued north on Interstate 79.
Marion County Sheriff Jimmy Riffle said the incident began at the Clarksburg Walmart with a shoplifting complaint. Clarksburg police began the pursuit. Riffle said shots were fired out of a white van and other attempts made by the suspects to elude police.
“The pursued vehicle was throwing things like furniture and larger items out of the back in an attempt to try and stop the police pursuit or wreck those vehicles and they continually fired multiple rounds back at (police),” Riffle said.
The van crossed over to the southbound lanes and the three fled the vehicle, set it on fire, and took off running near the Kingmont exit in Marion County.
Authorities said Lebron was injured during the foot chase when a Harrison County deputy returned fire. Lebron is in stable condition at Ruby Memorial Hospital. Chicas and Carballo were chased down by police. Drones and boats were used to search the banks of the Tygart River where Chicas and Carballo were located.
A number of roads were closed during the pursuit and manhunt including both north and southbound lanes of the interstate. East Fairmont High School, where an evening event was taking place, was put on lockdown.
Riffle said the nature of the incident makes it a complicated investigation to sort out.
“With that many agencies and that many jurisdictions involved it’s going to take some time. There’s evidence to be processed and scenes to be processed,” Riffle said.
The Marion County charges include two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, weapons charges, conspiracy, transporting stolen property and third degree arson. Lebron will be charged once he’s released from the hospital.
There will also be charges in Harrison County.
Riffle said there was good cooperation by multiple police agencies.
“We were all trying to reach the same goal and it was all accomplished by the apprehension of the three suspects,” Riffle said.
WAJR Report Mike Nolting contributed to this story.