Man is Shot and Killed in Standoff With Deputies

Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputies have been investigating a shooting that happened Saturday in the 3100 block of Leatherwood Road near Clendenin. Neighbors identified the shooter as 56-year old Russell Elswick, and deputies learned that Elswick was prohibited from possessing guns and had a warrant from recently missing a court date. Elswick was living in a converted barn, and deputies talked ot him through a window in the barn door. Sgt B-D Humphreys says Elswick would not come outsideand tear gas had to be used, but he eventually appeared from behind a barricade with a shotgun and threatened the Deputies verbally, then began to point the shotgun at them when they shot him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There is an internal investigation being conducted by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and an external investigation being handled through detectives with other local law enforcement agencies.