On November 13, 2020, a tragic shooting occurred on Whitten Ridge Road near Hannan in Mason County, West Virginia, resulting in the deaths of two men and injuries to a third. The victims were identified as Ivan Lambert and Ricky Pickens, both of whom succumbed to their injuries, while James Smith Jr. sustained injuries but survived.
In May 2021, three individuals were indicted in connection with this double homicide. Brandon A. Smith, 30, of Milton, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Lambert and Pickens, and one count of attempted murder for the attack on Smith Jr. Two alleged accomplices, Corey A. Turner and Dustin L. Lyons, were each indicted on two counts of accessory to murder. If convicted, all three men could face life sentences.
Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Seth S. Gaskins emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that such heinous acts are rarely seen in the county.
He expressed a commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice, with the hope that their conviction would provide some closure to the victims' families.
The investigation into the shooting was conducted by local law enforcement, who responded to the scene and discovered the three men with gunshot wounds inside the home. Lambert was pronounced dead at the scene, while Pickens and Smith Jr. were transported to a local hospital, where Pickens later died from his injuries.
The indictments marked a significant development in the case, as the community sought answers and justice for the senseless act of violence that claimed two lives and impacted several others. The legal proceedings aimed to hold those responsible accountable and to deter such crimes in the future.
