Summers County man charged with shooting and growing marijuana plants

TALCOTT, WV (WVNS) — A Summers County man was arrested after a shooting and a discovery of marijuana plants inside his home.

According to a criminal complaint, on June 26, 2024 at 6:00 A.M., officers responded to a call at 629 Barger Springs Road in regards to a person shooting a gun. While on the way to the home, Sheriff J.L. Faris received a call about the male suspect at the scene, Joel Ross Thompson, 51, of Talcott.

Sheriff J.L. Faris was also told that Thompson had shot someone. Other officers came to the scene and told Thompson to come out of his house. At that time, Sheriff J.L. Faris and West Virginia State Trooper Z. Hatfield searched the home to see if they could find any victims from the shooting incident.

While searching Thompson’s home, 14 marijuana plants being grown were discovered. Further into the search, used shell casings of several different calibers were found on the living room floor. Several guns were also found on the kitchen counter, bedroom, and living room. The guns found matched with the calibers of the used shell casings. The back door of his house and his truck were filled with bullet holes where Thompson had shot at them.

Thompson’s house is within 500 feet of three different homes on Barber Springs Road.

Joel Ross Thompson was charged with Cultivating Marijuana and Shooting within 500-feet of a Dwelling. He is currently at Southern Regional Jail.

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