CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man is dead and another is being sought after an early morning shooting in Charleston. Police were dispatched to an area on Charleston’s west side around 3:30 a.m. Saturday where a man was shot apparently without provocation.
“According to witnesses they were in a restaurant/grill area when the suspect approached the victim from the rear, grabbed him by the neck, then shot him multiple times. The suspect then ran down an alleyway and as he was running away, multiple people fired at the suspect,” said Lt. Tony Hazelett, Chief of Detectives for the Charleston Police Department.
The victim died at the scene. He’s identified as Dimitri Coleman, 29, of Charleston.
“Obviously there’s some kind of backstory, but it’s early in the investigation and we don’t have a motive at this time. But that is odd that someone grabs someone by the throat and shot him multiple time,” he said.
According to Hazelett there was no evidence any of the returned shots hit the suspect. Police canvassed the area and recovered multiple shell casings. Hazelett couldn’t say how many shot were fired.
They continue looking for the suspect described as an older black man wearing a black jacket and black pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact Charleston Police at 304-348-6480.