On October 19, 2016, a tragic and violent incident unfolded in Parkersburg, West Virginia, resulting in the death of Brian Duanne Shann, a 38-year-old resident of the city. The incident began earlier in the day when Shann was shot at his residence located at 1015 E. 12th St., at the corner of 12th and Oak streets. Shann was taken to Camden Clark Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:34 a.m..
The investigation led by the Parkersburg Police Department identified Jason Edward
Drain, 31, as the suspect in Shann's shooting death. The motive behind the killing was believed to be robbery. Drain was not apprehended immediately, as he fled the scene and later became involved in a standoff with police in a different part of the city.
The standoff occurred in a parking lot behind O'Reilly's Auto Parts at the corner of Neal Street and Ninth Avenue. Drain was in a white pickup truck with a passenger, Cassandra Michelle Bailey, 28, also of Parkersburg. As police attempted to apprehend Drain, a tense standoff ensued. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with multiple police officers armed with AK-47s surrounding the vehicle and shouting commands at Drain to surrender. Despite these efforts, the situation escalated when Drain pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and shot himself. Shortly thereafter, Bailey picked up the gun and shot herself as well.
No police firearms were discharged during the incident, according to Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin. The standoff and subsequent shootings left the neighborhood in shock, with residents expressing deep concern over the increasing violence and drug-related issues in the area. The incident was particularly disturbing for those who had lived in the neighborhood for years and had never witnessed such violence before.
The deaths of Drain and Bailey marked the end of the immediate threat, but the community was left grappling with the aftermath of these tragic events. The connection between the shooting of Shann and the subsequent standoff was clear, with Drain being identified as the suspect in both incidents. However, due to his death, there was no arrest or trial in this case.
