BEVERLY, W.Va. (WBOY) — A man has been charged after allegedly firing a pistol during an altercation in Randolph County.

On July 7, troopers with the Randolph County detachment of the West Virginia State Police were notified of a shots fired complaint near the BFS on West Virginia Route 219 near Beverly, according to a criminal complaint.

While en route, troopers were informed that Cole Edmond, 30, of Dailey, “was alleged to have shot another individual in the roadway,” and that Edmond “had left the scene in a dark colored Ram pickup truck,” troopers said.

Troopers found the vehicle driving on W.Va. Rt. 219 in Dailey, and performed a traffic stop, at which point they detained Edmond and began a Mirandized interview, according to the complaint.

In that interview, Edmond stated “that he had become involved in an altercation over allegedly stolen property” with two individuals on Files Creek Road in Beverly, and that “he fled from the altercation on foot” until he was close to the BFS, troopers said.

While running, Edmond told troopers, “he produced a 7.62×25 pistol which he had concealed on his person” and shot one round “into the ground between himself” and one of the victims” in order to stop” the two individuals “from chasing him,” according to the complaint.

In a statement from one of the victims, troopers learned that the victim had “become involved in an altercation with Edmond” … “while attempting to confront Edmond over stealing property from him,” and that Edmond had fled, which led to the victim chasing him until crossing a bridge on W.Va. Rt. 219, at which point Edmond “pulled out a gun from his pants and shot at” the victim, troopers said.

Troopers learned that Edmond’s criminal history included a previous conviction for a felony DUI causing death in 2014, according to the complaint.

Edmond has been charged with wanton endangerment involving a firearm. He is being held in Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $50,000.

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