A manhunt spanning several states came to a close when a 54-year-old from Ironton, Ohio, was fatally shot by officers after he took hostages at a Speedway gas station in Ceredo, West Virginia on Saturday night, September 9.
The incident occurred when a state trooper, on a routine visit to the gas station, recognized David Maynard as the suspect in a murder case in Ohio and two kidnappings in Kentucky. Armed with a pistol, Maynard confronted the trooper, leading to the hostage situation.
A negotiator from the West Virginia State Police Special Response Team engaged in a 90-minute conversation with Maynard, successfully convincing him to release two of the hostages. Maynard then requested a blanket be placed at the door for the remaining hostage.
Maynard left the gas station and confronted members of the State Police Special Response Team, prompting officers to open fire. Maynard was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Thankfully, the third hostage emerged unharmed, and no officers sustained injuries during the standoff.
The manhunt for Maynard started Friday when Ironton police officers responded to reports of gunshots and discovered a bound woman and the lifeless body of Maynard’s 78-year-old stepfather, Donald Wood. Following this gruesome discovery, Maynard fled, abducting two women from different locations in Kentucky and stealing their vehicles. Fortunately, one of the kidnapped women managed to escape and alert authorities.
Before the Speedway standoff, Maynard had been last sighted in West Kenova, West Virginia, earlier on the same day. A shelter-in-place alert was issued as law enforcement agencies diligently searched for Maynard.