MORGANTOWN — A suspected armed fugitive is dead, after police rushed to the scene of College Avenue and Falling Run Road, which was shut down Wednesday after a shots-fired call.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service were attempting to apprehend the suspect, who had a handgun and tried to flee from the marshalls, according to a Morgantown Police Department release. During a foot pursuit, the suspect fired the gun and at least one member of the U.S. Marshalls Service returned fire.
A medical examiner was called to 1133 College Ave. after the Morgantown Police Department reported shots fired at that location at 12:19 p.m., according to MECCA 911 and emergency radio traffic.
The suspect information is not being released, pending notification of his next of kin.
“The United States Marshal Service, Northern District of West Virginia, was involved in a line of duty fatal shooting today at approximately 12:15 p.m.,” Alex Neville, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for Northern West Virginia, told MetroNews. “Deputy U.S. Marshals and task force officers were attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for the attempted murder of a police officer.”
Neville would not confirm if the dead suspect was Donquale Grey. However, the information which led authorities to the Morgantown residence came from the same region where Grey is alleged to have shot a police officer last month.
“A fugitive investigation was referred to the U.S. Marshal Service in the western district of Virginia,” Neville told Metronews. “Leads were eventually developed, which were forwarded to Northern West Virginia for us to make endeavors to arrest the suspect.”
Andrew Stacy, Morgantown’s public information officer, said that MPD asked residents to avoid the area due to dangerous conditions. Falling Run Road and College Avenue were reopened at 1:56 p.m., according to a press release.
“We are monitoring this developing situation. However, it’s important to note that it did not occur on the WVU campus. University Police is assisting Morgantown Police. Out of an abundance of caution, we are sending alerts, posting to social media and keeping our campus community updated as we confirm information,” April Kaull, WVU spokesperson said.
The Morgantown Police Department, West Virginia University Police Department, Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia State Police all responded to the area.
