On August 23, 2017, David Eugene 'Punkie' Elmore, a 31-year-old resident of Clendenin, West Virginia, lost his life in a tragic incident involving a fatal shooting. The event occurred during an argument between neighbors on Laurel Fork Road in Kanawha County.
The altercation began when David Elmore, who was seated in the passenger seat of a pickup truck driven by his wife, Cora Mae Elmore, sprayed their neighbor, Randall Douglas Woods, with bug spray. This act was in response to an ongoing argument between the parties involved. Woods, who was seated on an ATV in the roadway, reacted violently to being sprayed. He pulled out a firearm and fired it into the pickup truck, striking both David Elmore and his wife, Cora Mae Elmore. David Elmore was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts by neighbors and first responders to perform CPR.
Cora Mae Elmore, who was 38 years old at the time, was also struck by gunfire but survived and was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Randall Douglas Woods, the perpetrator of the shooting, was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. His guilty plea was entered on March 27, 2019. The judge described the incident as a tragic overreaction and sentenced Woods to five years in prison. The case highlighted the severe consequences of escalating disputes and the importance of managing conflicts peacefully.
The incident was thoroughly investigated by Kanawha County deputies, who detailed the sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting. The argument had involved multiple neighbors, with another neighbor arguing with Woods from his own yard at the time of the incident. The presence of a third family member in the rear of the pickup truck cab further emphasizes the chaotic and dangerous nature of the situation.
David Elmore's death was deeply felt by his family and community. He is survived by his wife, Cora Mae Elmore, and their children, as well as a large extended family. His funeral was held on August 31, 2017, at Hafer Funeral Home in Elkview, West Virginia, with burial following in the Elmore Family Cemetery in Clendenin, West Virginia.
