ELKINS, W.Va. — A dispute over a dog being shot escalated Monday evening into a homicide in Randolph County.
Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon said his department was on the way to a call on Chenoweth Creek outside Elkins when they got a second call indicating a man had been shot at a different address.
“It was a white male shot while riding a side-by-side. They gave us a different address from where the dog call was,” said Elbon.
Elbon and his deputies arrived and learned from witnesses after the shooting the suspected shooter, Steven Cross, had retreated back inside the home.
“We set up a perimeter, called our SWAT guys, and my Lieutenant got on his car speaker and started communicating,” Elbon explained.
Elbon said they also learned there were children in the house and they were careful to try and avoid any further conflict or gunfire. The Randolph County 911 center was able to call the house and make contact with the alleged shooter. After several minutes, he came out peacefully and was taken into custody.
The victim, identified as Jonathan Chenoweth, suffered five fatal gunshot wounds as he sat in the driveway on the side-by-side.
“There were a total of seven shots fired and he was hit five times,” said Elbon who added the Chenoweth was not armed.
According to statements, Cross had admitted to shooting the dog earlier to the victim’s son who was speaking to him from the roadway in front of the house.
“How the victim ended up getting that information, we’re not sure, but then he showed up in the suspect’s driveway on the side-by-side and that’s where we found him deceased,” the Sheriff said.
Cross was taken into custody and charged with 2nd Degree Murder. He is held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bond.