A suspect in a homicide in Ohio and several carjackings in Kentucky was killed by West Virginia police in a confrontation outside a gas station, where the man was holding three hostages.
A multi-state manhunt for David Maynard, 54, ended Saturday night at a Speedway gas station in a West Virginia town near the Ohio River. That’s when a sergeant stopped and identified the man behind the counter as the suspect who eluded authorities, according to a statement from West Virginia State Police.
Maynard pointed his gun at the sergeant, and a State Police Official Response Team responded along with local officers, according to the release. A police negotiator secured the release of two of the hostages before Maynard asked to place a blanket over the door for the third hostage, police said.
Officers opened fire after Maynard “came out the door and confronted” the State Police Official Response Team, according to the statement. West Virginia State Police told The Associated Press they could not release any additional information Sunday.
Maynard, a native of Ironton, Ohio, died of his injuries at a nearby hospital. The police reported that the third hostage is safe and no officers were injured.
The search began Friday, when Ironton police — responding to a report of gunshots — found a 29-year-old woman bound with ropes and the 78-year-old stepfather of Maynard is dead, according to WSAZ. While on the run, authorities say Maynard kidnapped and carjacked two women in separate locations in Kentucky, one of whom managed to get out and call 911 before reaching safety.
