New details about a June 26 armed robbery at the Morgantown Motel, and the death of one of those accused of the crime, emerged at a court hearing on Tuesday.
Monongalia County Sheriff’s Detective J. Wilhelm testified Janson Davenport, 21, committed suicide in North Central Regional Jail. Davenport was found unresponsive in his cell on June 30 and declared dead about an hour later.
Wilhelm testified during a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Jim Nabors in Monongalia County Magistrate Court for Nicolas Curtis, 27. Curtis is charged with armed robbery and conspiracy. Davenport was charged with the same crimes and wanton endangerment.
“Curtis said he went there with intent to rob,” Wilhelm testified.
The investigation revealed Curtis, Davenport and a third person named Paul Shaffer, met up and went to Room 37 of the Morgantown Motel to rob a heroin dealer, Wilhelm said. He testified Curtis was at the room earlier in the day. Shaffer has not been arrested in connection with this robbery.
The victim was upset Curtis brought Davenport because he wasn’t familiar with him, Wilhelm said. The victim was further irritated when Davenport took over communication and handed him a counterfeit $100.
“According to Davenport it was to confuse them,” Wilhelm said of the fake money. “There was a conflict.”
Davenport drew a gun, a .45, and ordered everyone’s hands up. At some point, the victim went to the bathroom and got his gun, a .380, Wilhelm said. At least five shots were exchanged and a 17-year-old girl was grazed in the chest.
Both Davenport and Curtis corroborated each other’s stories during an interview after being arrested, according to Wilhelm.
The only things taken were what appeared to be a laundry basket with “insignificant items” and the victims said their cell phones were taken, Wilhelm said. Cell phones were recovered, but it’s not clear who they belong to.
After the shootout, Davenport, Shaffer and Curtis left. The Morgantown Police Department located the suspects at an abandoned house and arrested Curtis and Davenport, later that day, while Wilhelm was still at the crime scene, he said.
Nabors found there was probable cause for prosecution and the case will be bound over to Circuit Court.
Curtis is being held in NCRJ in lieu of $100,000 bond.
When asked if charges are pending against the victim for selling drugs or his own firearm use, Sheriff Perry Palmer told The Dominion Post the case was still being investigated.
