A business owner near Mink Shoals apparently shot and wounded a man he said was tampering with cars outside his business late Saturday night, police say.
According to a press release, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office responded Friday to a reported shooting in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, north of Charleston. The caller said her husband had just shot someone.
Business owner Justin Hardman, of Charleston, told police his business had been subject to vandalism and theft recently, so he stayed overnight to watch his property. Hardman told police that around 11:15 p.m. he saw a man tampering with cars outside his building.
He confronted the man and started chasing the man, who seemed to have a tire iron or another large tool in his had, he told police. Hardman shot at the other man with a pistol. Hardman believed a bullet struck the man, but the man continued to flee. Hardman's wife then called 911.
Police found blood on leaves and debris by the riverbank.
Charleston Fire Department responded with their boat and helped search the riverbank, police say.
Early Saturday morning, police responded to a call about a suspicious person in a neighborhood about a mile from the scene of the shooting.
Daniel Knight, 31, of Campbells Creek, was found bleeding from a gunshot wound to his butt. He was taken to CAMC General for treatment.
Findings from the investigation will be presented to the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review. So far no one has been charged.