In the early evening of April 22, 2021, a dispute in a Charleston, West Virginia alley escalated into a fatal act of violence, claiming the life of 29-year-old Charles "C.J." Thaxton. The White / Caucasian male was involved in an altercation on the city's West Side, in the vicinity of the 130 block of Stuart Street. The argument took a deadly turn around 7:45 p.m. when the other individual involved pulled out a firearm.
A single shot was fired, striking Thaxton in the chest.
The gunman then fled the scene in a Ford F-250 truck, leaving Thaxton gravely wounded. Emergency services responded, and Thaxton was rushed to a local hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The Charleston Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the city's fourth homicide in a short period.
The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Beau Alexander Hodge of Clendenin. His attempt to escape came to an abrupt end later that evening. At approximately 9:00 p.m., the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department was called to the scene of a vehicle crash in the 100 block of North Pinch Road in Elkview. They discovered a heavily damaged Ford F-250 on its side, and Hodge was found outside the vehicle.
Following the crash, Hodge was taken into custody. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Charles Thaxton. After his arrest, Hodge was booked at the South Central Regional Jail.
