A multi-state manhunt ended with a suspect being killed after he was wanted for murder in Ohio and two counts of kidnapping in Kentucky.
The suspect, a 54-year-old man from Ironton, Ohio identified as David Maynard, took three hostages at a Speedway gas station in Ceredo, West Virginia, just after midnight.
A state trooper happened to be visiting the gas station, located at the corner of 6th Street West and Route 60, when he saw Maynard behind the counter. The officer quickly recognized him as the suspect in the manhunt.
Maynard then pointed his pistol at the trooper, which led to the hostage situation.
Kenova Police Chief Bob Sullivan said, “A hostage negotiator with the West Virginia State Police Special Response Team communicated with Maynard for an hour and a half. The negotiator successfully got the suspect to release two hostages before Maynard asked that a blanket be placed at the door for the remaining hostage.”
Maynard eventually “exited the door and engaged” members of the State Police Special Response Team, prompting officers to fire at him.
Maynard later died of his injuries at a nearby hospital. The third hostage was safely secured and unharmed, and no officers were injured in the standoff.
The search for Maynard began Friday when Ironton police officers responding to a report of shots fired found a woman bound with cords and Maynard’s 78-year-old stepfather, identified as Donald Wood, dead.
“A 39-year old female was tied up using cords and [officers] cut her loose, then proceeded to clear the rest of the house and they found a 78-year-old male deceased,” Ironton Chief of Police Dan Johnson stated.
While on the run from police, Maynard abducted two women at separate locations in Kentucky and stole their cars. One of the women managed to escape and called 911.
Prior to the Speedway standoff, Maynard had been last spotted earlier on Saturday in West Kenova, West Virginia, and a shelter-in-place alert was issued as police searched for Maynard.
