MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Bluefield man has been charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder and assault on law enforcement officers, following a chaotic series of events involving gunfire in a residential area. The suspect, identified as Ronald Sardon, allegedly fired a handgun at responding officers while hiding in a wooded area and later claimed he was fleeing from “cannibals.”
Initial Reports of Gunfire
On December 5, at approximately 12:23 AM, Patrolmen R.L. Burton and K.S. Cantrell of the Bluefield Police Department were dispatched to the area of Wilson and Brown Streets after residents reported hearing gunshots. Mercer County 911 received multiple calls, with one caller stating that a bullet appeared to have struck their home.
Upon arrival, officers and additional units, including Detective Sergeant K.L. Ross and Patrolman R.L. Hamm, heard multiple gunshots but were initially unable to determine their origin due to echoes. A witness directed officers toward a wooded hillside northeast of Wilson Street.
Investigation in the Wooded Area
Officers searched the area, eventually locating an unsecured abandoned house. While no suspect was found, further investigation revealed that a bullet had struck a nearby residence, confirming reports from the caller. The investigation remained active as officers sought to identify the shooter.
Suspect Found in Distress
The following morning, December 6, Sergeant A.E. Green responded to a report of a man lying in the road near Wilson Street. The man, later identified as Ronald Sardon, claimed he had been in the wooded area for two days, believed his legs were broken, and stated he was being chased by cannibals. Sardon, covered in dirt and leaves, was transported to BRMC for medical evaluation.
At the hospital, Sardon admitted to having a firearm and firing it in the wooded area. He claimed he was shooting at police officers, who he said he could see moving in the distance, and alleged he was caught between the officers and the imagined cannibals. Sardon described the weapon as a silver and black .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.
Evidence Recovered
During a search of the wooded area on December 6, Lt. Brian Copenhaver and K-9 Thor discovered a black and silver handgun with the slide locked back, along with nine spent .40-caliber shell casings and a flashlight. Sardon’s description of the firearm matched the one found at the scene, and its location corresponded with the trajectory of the shots fired at officers. Sardon claimed to have fired 14 rounds, though only nine casings were recovered.
Additional Allegations
During interviews, Sardon confessed to firing at officers and stated he believed he had killed five people. He also admitted to having pulled a gun on a woman, identified as Leigh Wagner, earlier on December 5, after she asked him to leave her residence. Wagner told police Sardon had been “tweaking out” before brandishing a Smith & Wesson handgun and leaving.
Charges Filed
Based on Sardon’s statements, witness accounts, and physical evidence, authorities have filed the following charges against him:
- 4 Counts of Attempted Murder
- 4 Counts of Assault on an Officer
- Destruction of Property
- Use of a Handgun During the Commission of a Felony
Authorities believe Sardon’s actions were intentional, as evidenced by his statements and proximity to officers during the incident.
