Last night, November 21, 2016, shortly after 7:00 p.m., a drive-by shooting was reported to Metro 911. Callers on Kentucky Avenue near Saint Albans said people in a white Chevrolet Impala fired a gun toward a house in the 300 block. An adult male, female, and a child were inside the house. When Deputy Sheriffs with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office arrived a few moments later they confirmed the house had been shot. No one was injured by the gunfire.
Within eight minutes Deputies spotted the suspect vehicle. The vehicle fled on State Route 817 into Putnam County. The pursuit involved several law enforcement agencies, and ended on a dead-end, residential road near Winfield High School. Two were arrested and a rifle was recovered from the vehicle.
Detectives with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office processed the crime scene and suspect vehicle for evidence. They also interviewed the two in the vehicle, Levi D. West (22 years old of Cross Lanes, WV) and Zachery T. Pearson (19 years old of Saint Albans, WV). Both were subsequently charged with wanton endangerment and taken to South Central Regional Jail.
As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. West and Mr. Pearson are merely accusations. Each is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.