Distraught Man With A Gun Gets Taken Out In A Hail Of Bullets By Police On A Highway In Broad Daylight

ECKLEY, W.Va. — Police have yet to release the name of the man shot and killed by officers Wednesday morning just off the Bradley exit of U.S. Route 19 near the Crossroads Mall in Raleigh County.

State police released additional information Wednesday night about how the incident began.

According to that news release, “initial calls reported an armed suspect fleeing from a crash scene off of Dry Hill Road in Raleigh County. The suspect then stole a truck reported as being blue in color and fled in an unknown direction. A short time later, the suspect was located at Big Lots near the Raleigh Mall in the stolen vehicle. The suspect refused to stop for officers and a pursuit ensued leading into Fayette County and back into the Bradley area of Raleigh County. The pursuit ended when the vehicle became disabled off of Route 19 in Bradley. The armed suspect exited the vehicle and was engaged by law enforcement. During a short standoff, the suspect continued to brandish a handgun, resulting in gunfire from law enforcement, causing the suspect’s death.”

The shooting was caught on video by stopped motorists at just before 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The video shows the man running through the grass near the northbound entrance ramp not far from the Sheetz convenience store. He was holding a gun. The video shows him pointing the gun at his head several times as armed police officers pursued on foot. When the man reached Robert C. Byrd Drive (Bradley exit) near the Route 19 overpass on foot he turned toward motorists and appeared to wave goodbye. He then turned toward police which was followed by multiple shots from police. The man died in the highway.

The man was white with long hair and a beard. He was wearing a hooded pullover.

State police said the investigation is ongoing.