Police: Fugitive killed after pulling gun at father’s funeral in West Virginia

NUTTER FORT, W.Va. (AP) — A man wanted by U.S. marshals and other law enforcement agencies was fatally shot at a funeral in northern West Virginia for his father Wednesday after he pulled a gun on officers who tried to arrest him. the authorities said.

The shooting happened in the Harrison community of Nutter Fork, local news outlets reported.

Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said officers have a warrant for the man’s arrest.

The man, whose name authorities have not released, was seen as a pallbearer at the funeral home. After allowing him to help carry the coffin to the hearse, the officers attempted to arrest him. The man then pulled out a gun and was shot, Clarksburg Police Chief Randy Hartley said told Telegram exponent.

WBOY-TV informed that Evelyn O’Dell identified him as Jason Owens, the son of Arnie Owens Jr., whose funeral was held Wednesday. O’Dell is Junior Owens’ sister.

As the coffin was placed in the hearse, officers could be heard shouting the fugitive’s name, she said.

“He just took his dad out and put him in the car and brought the coffin out and he came over and I hugged him and the next thing I know, somebody yelled ‘Jason!’ and then, you know, ‘boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,'” O’Dell told WBOY. “There was no way he could do nothing.”

“I’m confused. I’m just really upset,” O’Dell said. “I was preparing to put my brother in the ground, and they shot his son. It’s a mess.”

State police are investigating the shooting.