A 911 call came in that reported someone shooting their residence twice with a shotgun, then leaving. When other deputies arrived to the scene, they attempted to talk to Elswick through a window on his barn door, but he refused to come outside. Hours after the standoff started, deputies say they opened the door's window, and Elswick was standing behind a barricade with a shotgun. Elswick allegedly pointed his shotgun at deputies, and he was shot and killed.
Victim's Name: Russell Elswick
Agency Responsible: Kanawha County Sheriff's Office
Gender: Male
Age: 56
Race: White
Date of Death: November 5, 2016
County: Kanawha
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Unknown
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: gun
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 2021
Geography: Rural