On a summer afternoon in Huntington, West Virginia, a verbal disagreement escalated into a fatal encounter that ended the life of Wendell L. Keith II, a 47-year-old Black / African American man. On June 21, 2021, in the 800 block of 12th Street, Keith was shot. The Huntington Police Department responded to the scene around 1:20 p.m. to find Keith wounded.
He was transported to Cabell Huntington Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect who was known to Keith. Authorities identified 19-year-old Delron Thacker of Huntington as the alleged shooter. According to police, the incident stemmed from an argument between the two men. Following the investigation, Thacker was arrested and charged with murder. He was subsequently held in the Western Regional Jail.
Wendell L. Keith II, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was remembered as a kind, caring, and considerate soul. His death left a void in the lives of his family, including his children, his father, and his significant other. Funeral services were held to honor his life and memory within the Huntington community.
