Man, 18, injured in Huntington shooting; suspect arrested

UPDATE 5/17/23 @ 6:15 p.m.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A man from Ashland, Kentucky, was arrested Wednesday in connection with a shooting earlier in the day in West Huntington, according to the Huntington Police Department.

Christopher Williams, 37, is charged with malicious assault and wanton endangerment.

According to HPD, Williams was arrested around 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 3100 block of Central Avenue in Ashland. He faces extradition back to West Virginia.

An 18-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, which happened just before 11 a.m. in the 1000 block of Jefferson Avenue.

HPD Chief Phil Watkins said the Ashland Police Department and its Task Force were instrumental in capturing Williams.

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ORIGINAL STORY

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - An 18-year-old was shot Wednesday morning in the 1000 block of Jefferson Avenue, according to Huntington police.

Officers responded just before 11 a.m.

Huntington Police confirm the man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

No arrests have been made at this time, but detectives do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

Mimi Crist, the grandmother of the shooting victim, was terrified when she got the phone call her grandson had been shot.

“This is a total disregard for anybody,” Crist said. “They didn’t care who got hurt or killed. They just did what they thought they had to do. It’s dangerous. It needs to stop.”

She says fortunately, her grandson was able to come home from the hospital after only a couple hours. She says the bullet hit at the top part of his hip.

“The bullet went in one side and came out the other clean,” Crist said. “Thank goodness he didn’t need surgery.”

Britani Bartram is a friend of the victim. She says it’s a relief no bystanders were hurt, and it’s not rare for her 2-year-old son to be playing outside at that time.

“He obviously didn’t think about what he was doing,” Bartram said of the shooter. “He does need to answer for what he did. There’s a school over there. It’s a bit rough.”

Anyone with information is advised to call the Huntington Police Department.

Further information has not been released.

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