Matoaka, WV (WOAY) – A Mercer County man faces criminal charges following a shooting incident in Matoaka.
According to a Mercer County criminal complaint, authorities responded to an E911 call from a Charles Gross Road residence on Sunday, March 16.
Mercer County Sheriffs responded to a call from the same residence two hours before the shooting in connection to a verbal altercation.
The caller reported a man was in her driveway with a gun.
She then hung up after telling the dispatcher the suspect was walking toward her house.
Dispatchers encouraged her to remain on the line, but she stated that she could not because the suspect would shoot her.
Upon arrival, authorities spoke with the individuals on the scene, who identified the suspect as 27-year-old Cody Allen Runyon of Matoaka.
Witnesses report Runyon had fled the scene after using a 9mm firearm to shoot inside and outside the house multiple times.
Deputies discovered several shell casings around the residence and documented multiple entry holes.
One of the witnesses, identified as Runyon’s girlfriend and mother of his child, reports she and her friends left the home to take her child for a drive to help them get to sleep.
She reports Runyon had been drinking and was sleeping when they left the house.
Upon their return, they reported Runyon was communicating threats and throwing things around the house, resulting in one of the witnesses making the initial 911 call.
Runyon left before authorities responded to the call and arrived at the home.
Witnesses report he later returned with a firearm, pointing it at everyone and threatening them to tell him who called the police.
When the individuals stated none of them made the call, Runyon allegedly began shooting inside the residence and took everyone’s cell phones, leaving a 911-only phone.
Runyon then left the scene in a vehicle and got into a car accident on Piedmont Road.
Deputies located and arrested him while he was walking home.
During his interview with authorities, Runyon stated he only shot the firearm one or two times at the floor and never threatened anyone.
Runyon faces several charges, including first-degree robbery, four counts of wanton endangerment, child neglect with risk of death, and domestic assault.
He awaits further court proceedings in Southern Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.
