Man threatens to murder bank employees in West Virginia

HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On a fateful Saturday morning in Cabell County, West Virginia, a concerning incident unfolded at The Huntington National Bank ‘s Barboursville branch.

At approximately 8:40 AM on August 10, 2024, a law enforcement officer responded to a threat complaint at the bank’s location on US Route 60. The officer spoke with bank employees and a Security Operation Center Analyst for The Huntington National Bank, who provided details about the disturbing situation.

According to the information gathered, a suspect named Donald Gordon Gallion had made threats against bank employees the previous day, Friday, August 9th. The banker emailed the officer a synopsis of the incident, which revealed that Gallion had expressed his dissatisfaction, stating he no longer lived in Ohio. The email included two addresses associated with the suspect – one in Washington Court House, Ohio and another in Ranger, West Virginia. Given that the Barboursville branch was closest to the Ranger address, the bank made the decision to close the lobby early on Friday and keep it closed on Saturday as a precautionary measure in response to Gallion’s threatening statements.

Later that same day, the officer traveled to the Ranger address but was informed by neighbors that Gallion had not lived there in years. Further investigation revealed additional details about the suspect’s interactions with the bank.

A Regional Security Specialist for The Huntington National Bank stated that Gallion had closed his account at the Huntington branch located on 5th Avenue just days earlier, on July 29th. She also noted that Gallion had accessed his account from an ATM at a Food Fair in West Hamlin, West Virginia on July 19th.

The officer’s inquiry continued, and on August 13th, he received an email from another regional security specialist at the bank. The email indicated that earlier that day, Gallion had entered the Huntington branch again, still visibly upset.

Local police were called and removed the suspect, informing him he was no longer welcome at any Huntington National Bank location, as his presence would be considered trespassing. The email also provided a new alleged address for Gallion – 2040 Bear Creek Road in West Hamlin, West Virginia.

The officer’s investigation delved deeper, as he reviewed recorded phone calls from the previous Friday, August 9th. In these calls, the agitated suspect made chilling threats, stating he would “start going to branches and murdering people” and that he would “start hunting down every single person” he could find who worked at Huntington National Bank branches in West Virginia and Ohio. The suspect’s disturbing statements made it clear that he viewed his missing deposit as more valuable than human life.

With the Barboursville and Huntington branches being the closest to the suspect’s West Hamlin residence, the officer’s vigilance and the bank’s proactive measures to safeguard their employees and customers were of utmost importance in this unsettling situation.