SUMMERSVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Additional details were revealed on Friday regarding a series of criminal incidents on Sunday which left a Nicholas County first responder dead and one woman critically injured.
Initial reports received on Sunday, October 15, 2023, indicated a reckless driver causing concern in the Nicholas County area. Senior Trooper Cox of the West Virginia State Police discloses that he was among those preparing to respond to the initial call when, at approximately 6:39pm, reports were received indicating a vehicle accident involving the vehicle in question.
At the scene of the crash, the individual involved – identified as Dustin Dale Young, 24 years old – commandeered a pickup truck which he used to drive himself to a residence. Upon arriving at the residence, Young began violently attacking a female with a claw hammer.
Young left the scene of the attack in the stolen vehicle and proceeded toward Summersville before crashing into an additional vehicle. This incident directly caused the death of off-duty Nicholas County firefighter Brody Hanna.
At the scene of this incident, Young stole yet another vehicle – a Summersville Police Department cruiser which had been left running by the driver while the scene was being assessed. The suspect then began to flee toward Craigsville by way of the vehicle but was detained after the tires of the vehicle were burst by authorities through the implementation of spikes.
The West Virginia State Police on Friday were able to confirm an association of some sort between Young and the victim of the attack with a hammer at the aforementioned residence, though additional clarification could not be provided at press time. It was also revealed that drugs were a factor in the unfolding of the events which transpired on Sunday, though again, additional details were unavailable in this regard.
Dustin Dale Young was detained and charged with two counts of Grand Larceny, Fleeing with Reckless Disregard, DUI Causing Death with Reckless Disregard, Attempted Homicide, Burglary, and Assault During the Commission of a Felony.
The victim involved in the residential attack is said to still be in critical condition and receiving medical care at the time of writing.
“It was complete chaos,” said WVSP Senior Trooper Cox. “We had five active crime scenes; We had one person dead, and another critically injured. It was very chaotic.”
Senior Trooper White also addressed the media on Friday, condoning the work done by other law enforcement agencies who contributed to the investigation and praising Nicholas County residence for their respective roles in maintaining order.
“We have an unbelievable working relationship with the other three departments involved. I would really like to thank members of the Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department, Summersville PD, and all of our first responders, be it the fire department, the wrecker drivers, or EMS,” said Senior Trooper White.
“Last but not least, I’d like to thank the citizens of Nicholas County. We, again, had five crime scenes, one of which led us to shut down Route 41, which is a major route in Nicholas County. We had several detours. The citizens of Nicholas County are big supporters of all enforcement. They always have been, and I hope we keep that relationship.”
Additional LOOTPRESS crime coverage can be found here.