HOMETOWN - A man died after being shot by a sheriff's deputy in Putnam County Saturday morning, police say. The incident happened around 10 a.m. on Sixth Avenue North in Hometown, said Putnam County Chief Deputy Eric Hayzlett.
The deputy, whose name has not been released, was responding to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle at the Putnam Service District water plant when three suspects fled in different directions, Hayzlett said in a press release Saturday evening. The vehicle turned out to be stolen, he said. The deputy chased one of the men to Sixth Avenue North, the release says. The man was behind a home when the deputy noticed that he had a gun, according to the police.
"The individual ignored all commands, removed his weapon from a holster in his hand, and pointed the Glock pistol at the Deputy," the release says.
The deputy shot the man, who died on the scene, Hayzlett said in the release. The dead man has been identified as Joshua Allen Perry, 28, of Poca. His body was taken to the West Virginia Medical Examiner's office for autopsy.
The deputy, who was unharmed, has been placed on administrative leave per department policy, according to a press release from the sheriff's department.
The two other men were taken into police custody but have been interviewed and released, Hayzlett said in the release. They could still face charges if the investigation shows that's appropriate, Hayzlett said.
State Police spokesman Lt. Michael Baylous said he would not be releasing more information about the shooting.