Police pursuit ends in gunfire after suspect threatens officers in Fayette County

FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A high-speed police pursuit in Fayette County ends in gunfire.

On the evening of September 3, 2024, a high-speed chase in Fayette County ended with a dramatic confrontation between law enforcement officers and a suspect driving a stolen vehicle. The incident began after Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy C. D. Cogar received a call from the Oak Hill Police Department regarding a stolen black Ford Ranger reported the day before.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., while patrolling Route 60 near U.S. Route 19, Deputy Cogar spotted a black Ford Ranger matching the stolen vehicle’s description. After confirming with the Fayette County 911 Center that the car was stolen, Deputy Cogar followed the truck while awaiting backup from nearby units.

The situation escalated as the driver failed to stop after Deputy Cogar initiated his patrol lights and siren. The pursuit continued southbound on U.S. Route 19, with the driver running a red light and driving erratically, weaving across lanes and throwing items out of the vehicle. During the chase, officers were alerted that the suspect might be armed, raising concerns for officer safety.

As the pursuit approached Oak Hill, Patrolman S. Wilshire of the Oak Hill Police Department successfully deployed spike strips, forcing the vehicle to crash into a guardrail on the Summerlee Road on-ramp. The truck came to a halt, but the situation quickly took a dangerous turn.

Deputy Cogar, along with Deputy First Class T. McMillion and Sgt. G. Rinehart, from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, approached the vehicle and repeatedly ordered the suspect to exit the truck. The driver, however, began screaming that he had a gun and threatened to kill the officers. Despite numerous commands to surrender, the suspect lunged toward the deputies with a shiny silver object in his hand that appeared to be a firearm.

Fearing for their lives, Deputy Cogar fired his service pistol to neutralize the threat. After the shots were fired, the suspect was pulled from the vehicle, and officers attempted to administer aid. Surprisingly, the suspect did not have any visible gunshot wounds and only sustained minor injuries from the vehicle crash.

The Fayette County 911 Center was immediately alerted to the shots fired, and the situation is currently under investigation. Authorities are still reviewing the details of the incident, and the suspect’s condition is being monitored.

This event serves as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face daily, especially when suspects are armed and threatening violence.