On November 4, 2016, a tragic incident unfolded in Ashford, West Virginia, with the death of Edward Crose, a 46-year-old man. Crose's body was discovered in his home by family members, who immediately alerted the authorities. The investigation quickly focused on Crose's roommate, 25-year-old Shane Adkins, as the primary suspect.
Upon finding Crose's body, it was noted that Adkins and Crose's vehicle were missing. This led the Boone County Sheriff's Department to initiate a search for Adkins, who was believed to be heading towards Ohio where he had family members. The police in several counties were alerted to be on the lookout for the vehicle, and their efforts were coordinated to apprehend Adkins.
The pursuit of Adkins began when a Wood County deputy spotted the vehicle on state Route 47 around 5:30 a.m. on November 5, 2016. Adkins refused to stop, leading to a high-speed chase that continued southbound on Interstate 77 through Wood, Jackson, and Kanawha counties.
During the pursuit, Adkins fired several rounds at police officers from the driver's side window, posing a significant threat to the law enforcement personnel involved.
The chase finally came to an end in Kanawha County, near the Pocatalico exit, when Kanawha County deputies successfully deployed spike strips to disable the vehicle Adkins was driving. However, before the officers could approach or take any further action, Adkins took his own life with a single gunshot. This dramatic and tragic conclusion to the pursuit marked the end of the immediate danger posed by Adkins, but it also left a trail of destruction and grief across multiple counties in Southern West Virginia.
The authorities expressed confidence that Shane Adkins was indeed the person responsible for Edward Crose's murder, and with his death, they declared that there was no further danger to the public. The investigation highlighted the extensive coordination and efforts of law enforcement across several jurisdictions to apprehend the suspect and ensure public safety. The incident also resulted in the temporary closure of Interstate 77, which was reopened by 9:20 a.m. on the same day.
In the aftermath, the Boone County Sheriff's Department acknowledged the complexity and scope of the investigation, which involved multiple crime scenes and jurisdictions. The incident was described as a very unfortunate situation that had left a significant impact on the families of those involved and the broader community.
