CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Authorities on Monday morning identified the suspect involved in a double-homicide investigation out of Pennsylvania and were able to bring the vehicle being driven by the suspect to a halt in the Charleston area.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, April 8, 2024, at just after 6:00am, that the suspect involved in a murder out of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania could potentially be traveling along Interstate 79 toward Kanawha County.
50-year-old Dennis Rahuba was being sought by authorities with regard to an overnight double-homicide in Allegheny County and was reported to have been traveling southbound driving a black Acura with Pennsylvania registration.
The vehicle was reportedly detected just before 7:00am on Monday by Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputy J.A. Morris on Interstate 79 at Big Chimney. Deputies and officials from surrounding law enforcement agencies joined Morris in attempting to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle near the Westmoreland Exit.
Authorities conducted a shutdown of the interstate and surrounded the suspect as Deputy Morris attempted to order the suspect from the vehicle. At this time, what is believed to have been a single gunshot could be heard.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office SWAT members approached the vehicle and were able to confirm that Rahuba was deceased inside from the vehicle as the result of a single gunshot wound.
“We commend all the hard work that went into this morning’s event. Our telecommunicators at Metro 911 did an outstanding job relaying information to deputies that kept our citizens and officers safe in a very dangerous situation,” said Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy, Joe Crawford.
“We believe that we have some of the best deputies in the state, if not the entire country and Deputy Morris is a fine example of the excellent men and women here at the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. We also would like to thank the West Virginia State Police for their swift response to the scene and all the hard work from the Charleston Police Department. The teamwork from everyone involved ultimately ended this situation as safely as possible and we are thankful that nobody was injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims in Pennsylvania.”
