CHELYAN, W.Va. — Police shot and killed a stabbing suspect early Tuesday afternoon in eastern Kanawha County following a several hour long standoff that included the stabbing of a sheriff’s department K-9.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Jeremy Burns said deputies were first called to a stabbing in Chelyan at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday after a man ran into the ParMar Marathon station along state Route 61 and reported he had been stabbed in the back. Burns said the man was bleeding badly.
Deputies learned the possible suspect was in a house two doors down from the ParMar. Burns said deputies obtained a search warrant.
“Once that search warrant was obtained one our K-9s made entry, the suspect was inside and still armed with his knife and actually caused a laceration to the head of our K-9 unit (Jett), who was immediately brought out of the house and rushed to a vet hospital,” Burns said.
Deputies, along with state police and U.S. Marshals then tried for several hours to talk the man out of the house. Burns said the man refused.
“We began using tear gas in the residence to try and get he suspect out,” he said. “We tried several tactics for a number of hours but unfortunately, eventually, lethal force was utilized.”
Burns said the circumstances surrounding how the shots were fired and which officer shot the man is part of an ongoing investigation.
“When officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, the suspect became aggressive toward law enforcement. A firearm was discharged during the encounter. Immediate lifesaving measures were administered; however, the suspect succumbed to his injuries at the scene,” Burns said
Burns said it was a violent situation.
“A victim was stabbed. We believe that same suspect stabbed one of our K-9s and even after those two things occurred we took every step possible to get this situation resolved without lethal force but unfortunately lethal force was eventually utilized,” Burns said.
The stabbing victim is hospitalized. A third man in the house was not injured. No names have been released pending family notification.
Burns said the K-9 Jett is in stable condition.
“The dog was rushed to the vet and got medical attention immediately, got patched up and seems to be in good condition at this moment,” he said.