RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Raleigh County man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say he pulled a handgun during a fight and then intentionally drove an ATV into a crowd of people at an event held at Burning Rock in Tams.
According to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, deputies initially responded to Burning Rock on the night of June 20 after reports of an ATV crash and a fight during what was believed to be a concert.
Two days later, investigators obtained and reviewed social media videos that allegedly captured portions of the incident. Detectives said they also interviewed multiple victims whose accounts were consistent with the video evidence.
According to the investigation, a fight broke out during the event when Charles Frederick Austin allegedly pulled a handgun and pointed it in the face of one victim on two separate occasions. Investigators said video footage shows Austin waving the firearm and placing it directly in front of the victim’s face.
Deputies also learned Austin has a prior Virginia conviction for a violent sexual offense dating back to April 1, 2010, making him prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Investigators said Austin and a female companion then got into an ATV and attempted to leave the area. Before driving away, witnesses told deputies Austin said he was going to drive “right through these mother****ers.”
According to witnesses, Austin accelerated the ATV into a crowd, striking multiple people. One victim was pinned against another ATV and suffered injuries that required treatment at Raleigh General Hospital. Several other victims also suffered visible injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene.
Deputies said Austin then placed the ATV in reverse and struck one of the victims a second time before fleeing the scene with his passenger without stopping to assist anyone who had been injured.
One victim told investigators Austin made direct eye contact with her before deliberately driving the ATV toward her, describing the act as intentional and one that could have easily resulted in her death.
Investigators also allege the passenger made no attempt to stop the attack or leave the ATV before it was driven into the crowd.
The incident remains under investigation by the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
