HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A nursing supervisor at Cabell Huntington Hospital confirmed to WSAZ.com that Rashawn Harless died Monday afternoon. He was the man shot by police late Sunday during a chase near 7th Avenue.
Sunday, neighbors told WSAZ.com that some customers at the Speedway on Hal Greer Boulevard spotted Rashawn Harless with a gun. Two MUPD officers were nearby and customers told them about Harless.
Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says just before 5pm Sunday, the MUPD officers and some Huntington Police officers found Harless in the 1500 block of 7th Avenue carrying a gun. A chase started and Harless ran toward the train tracks. He ducked behind a trash dumpster and began firing shots at the officers. Chief Holbrook says MUPD officers returned fire toward Harless.
The Chief says HPD SWAT officers were called in as well as other local agencies to help in the situation. Neighbors and media were asked to move about a block away for safety reasons.
After nearly two hours, police got close enough to Harless to see he had a gunshot wound to his head. An ambulance waiting a block away moved in and took Harless to Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Both MUPD officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure following an officer involved in a shooting.
Court records show that Huntington Police arrested Harless last Wednesday during a city wide drug sweep. Harless was charged with possesion of a controlled substance. On Friday, he was released from jail on $5000 bond.