In the late hours of a Saturday night in May 2019, tragedy struck in Weston, West Virginia, forever altering the lives of two families. Joshua S. Runyon, a 29-year-old White male from Lost Creek, was at a residence on U.S. Highway 33 when a violent encounter unfolded. On May 25th, Runyon was shot in the head. He was rushed to Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital and then flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for advanced care. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Joshua succumbed to his injuries and passed away the following day, on May 26, 2019.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the arrest of a Weston man, 56-year-old Ronnie Glenn Simons Jr. Simons was taken into custody at the scene without incident. He reportedly admitted to authorities that he had shot Runyon, although the firearm, a. 380-caliber pistol, was not immediately recovered.
A witness later informed police that they had received the gun after the shooting, placed it in a plastic bag, and buried it in a sand pile at a local trucking company. Initially arrested for malicious wounding and attempted murder, the charges against Simons were upgraded to first-degree murder following Runyon's death. Authorities have stated that while the two men were acquainted, the motive for the shooting was not related to domestic issues or drugs.
Joshua, known as "Josh" to his friends and family, was remembered as a hardworking and loving man who was deeply devoted to his family. A 2007 graduate of South Harrison High School, he was a skilled welder, having started as a boilermaker at the age of seventeen before becoming a pipeline welder. He was a father who adored his children and loved to spoil them with affection and gifts. His obituary noted his passion for riding dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and dune buggies with his loved ones. In a final act of generosity, Joshua was an organ donor, a decision that saved multiple lives.
