Intense Manhunt for Murder Suspect Ends in Deadly Hostage Confrontation
Police in West Virginia shot and killed a guy who was holding three hostages outside a petrol station and was wanted in connection with an Ohio homicide and a string of carjackings in Kentucky.
The 54-year-old David Maynard was found late Saturday night at a Racetrack in a West Virginia hamlet near the Ohio River after a multistate search for him came to an end. According to a West Virginia State Police press release, that is when a sergeant stopped and identified the man behind the counter as the suspect who had evaded officers up until that point.
A State Police Special Response Team and local law enforcement reacted after Maynard pointed his gun at the sergeant, according to the press release.
A hostage negotiator with the West Virginia State Police Special Response Unit spoke with Maynard for an hour and a half, according to Kenova Police Chief Robert Sullivan, who spoke to CBS affiliate WOWK-TV. According to the station, there was a brief period of time when it was thought that one of the hostage victims had been shot.
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Tragic Hostage Standoff
Before Maynard asked for a blanket to be put at the door for the third captive, according to the police, the negotiator successfully freed the first two hostages.
Once Maynard “exited the door and engaged” members of the State Police Special Response Team, the release said that the police opened fire. The Associated Press was informed by West Virginia State Police that they were unable to provide any additional information on Sunday.
Maynard, of Ironton, Ohio, passed away at a local hospital as a result of his wounds. According to police, the third hostage was securely secured, and no policemen were hurt throughout the incident.
According to Chief Sullivan, none of the three hostages had obvious wounds, according to WOWK. According to WSAZ, the manhunt started on Friday after Ironton police discovered Maynard’s 78-year-old stepfather dead and a 29-year-old woman bound with cords after responding to a call of shots fired. Along the way, authorities claim Maynard kidnapped two ladies in Kentucky at different locations; one of the women was able to escape and dial 911 after driving to safety. Both of the women’s cars were also taken.
According to WOWK, Maynard was located late on Saturday in Kenova, West Virginia, and a shelter-in-place order was issued as police searched for him.
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Source: Newsbreak
