UPDATE: Suspects in deadly home invasion plead guilty

Three suspects in a deadly home invasion in Kanawha County pleaded guilty and now face prison time.

The home invasion happened on Nov. 16, 2017 in the 600 block of Albert Street in Charleston. The homeowner was able to make it outside and call police. Officers arrived and ended up exchanging gunfire with the suspects. One of the suspects was killed and an officer was shot, but survived.

A Charleston Police patrolman entered the home and saw suspect Seth Hardwick. There was a shootout and Hardwick was killed. Patrolman S. Johnson was struck once in the torso, but was wearing his bulletproof vest.

On Oct. 11 and 12 of 2018, the suspects who were arrested appeared in court:

Chrishawn Alexander Perkins, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to attempted first degree robbery. A judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison with 331 days credit for time served.

Christopher Tyrone Perkins, 33, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to attempted first degree robbery with use of a firearm. A judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison with 331 days credit for time served.

Casey Andrew Tucker, 21, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to attempted first degree robbery. His sentenced was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Nov. 27. Tucker faces up to 10 years in prison.

Police say another suspect, Raynee Hermand, was charged with burglary and robbery. According to the criminal complaint, she was waiting in a getaway car.

Three suspects in a deadly home invasion appeared in court Monday for a preliminary hearing.

Probable cause was found to send the case to a grand jury for suspects Christopher Perkins, Chrishawn Perkins and Casey Tucker. Bond for each suspect was increased to $200,000 cash.

The home invasion happened Nov. 16 in the 600 block of Albert Street in Charleston, killing one suspect and also ending in the shooting of a city police officer. That officer was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time and escaped injury.

Among those who testified Monday were a Charleston Police detective and a witness who lived in the home.

The detective testified that surveillance video showed four suspects go into the home, two with guns and some with their faces covered by scarves.

The witness testified that the suspects demanded money and drugs. The incident lasted just minutes before police arrived.

Police say another suspect, Raynee Hermand, waived the preliminary hearing. She is charged with burglary and robbery. According to the criminal complaint, she was waiting in a getaway car.

We’re continuing to learn new details as we work to uncover the connection between a group of people who broke into a house on Albert Street and the homeowner who just made it out, calling police Thursday night.

We’re told Officer Seth Johnson was the first officer to arrive on scene, saw one of the suspects peek through a window, and made entry at 610 Albert St. Johnson rounded the first corner inside the door and was shot right in the chest, his ballistic vest stopping that round.

Johnson was recovering at home Friday, we’re told. The whole incident was caught on his body camera. Police tell WSAZ it’s a tool that makes these types of investigations very swift, adding what used to take a week or more now takes just hours.

As far as those bulletproof vests, Charleston Police Chief Steve Cooper said Friday they are among the most important pieces of equipment they have.

“And they know in an instant, just like in this case in one instant, you can be under assault by a criminal with a deadly weapon,” Cooper said at Friday morning press conference. “And that's what happened to Officer Johnson. The vest saved his life, his training kicked in and he acted very swiftly, very bravely and very heroically in saving his own life and the lives of other victims maybe in the house and other officers."

Cooper went on to call the vests “worth their weight in gold.”

Neighbors say 610 Albert St. is no stranger to a police presence either, telling WSAZ officers have been there several times over the last few months. Police would not comment Friday on any connection between the people involved, and their connection to that property.

"Forty-three years ago it was real quiet and everything,” said one man who lives nearby, Bob Gardner. “Everybody got along and everything like that. And right now it's, I don’t know there's been a shooting down there and everything else and I don't know whether it's drugs or what."

Gardner, along with other neighbors, said it is concerning what happened Thursday night, especially with so many kids running around the neighborhood.

"I don't know, it's getting pretty bad. It’s getting pretty bad everywhere,” Gardner lamented.

Four suspects face charges in connection with the incident.

Charleston Police have released new information in a Thursday night shooting involving an officer.

According to a criminal complaint, at 11 p.m. on Thursday Patrolman S. Johnson was responding to a burglary call on Albert Street.

Police say when Johnson entered the home, he encountered gunfire from a man identified as Seth Hardwick.

Patrolman Johnson was struck once in the torso, but was wearing his bulletproof vest.

According to the complaint, Johnson returned fire, killing Hardwick.

Another man, identified as Chrishawn Perkins, 25, of Charleston, was also shot inside the home by another officer who was responding to the scene, according to police.

Police say Seth Hardwick, Chrishawn Perkins, Christopher Perkins, Casey Tucker and Raynee Herman met at the Go Mart on Bigley Avenue before the incident and traveled together to Albert Street.

Herman waited in the vehicle, while the other four suspects exited the vehicle armed with handguns, according to police.

Police say Hardwick kicked in the front door while he and the other three suspects entered the home where they held the residents at gunpoint while demanding drugs and money.

Casey Tucker is charged with attempted murder, robbery in the first degree and burglary.

Raynee Herman is charged with burglary and robbery in the first degree.

Christopher Perkins is charged with burglary, robbery in the first degree, and attempted murder.

Chrishawn Perkins was released from the hospital late Friday afternoon. He is charged with burglary, robbery in the first degree, and attempted murder.

All three have a bond on $150,00 cash only.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for updates.

Investigators are still on the scene of an incident where four people have been shot, including a Charleston Police officer.

Charleston Police haven't released many details yet, but we do know the officer who was hit by the gunfire is going to be okay. The bullet was stopped by his bullet proof vest.

The incident happened about 11 Thursday night in the 600 block of Albert St.

Officers were still at the home gathering evidence until about 7:15 Friday morning, trying to piece together what happened.

Police say the officer was responding to a burglary call at the home when he was shot. Three other people were shot in the incident. One of them died.

There's no word on the condition of the other victims.

Police have not said if anyone has been arrested in the case.

We have a crew at the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.

Four people have been shot after a burglary call late Thursday night in the 600 block of Albert Street, including one who has died, police at the scene say.

An officer was among those shot but was wearing a bulletproof vest and is said to be doing OK.

Details about the other people's conditions are unavailable at this time.

It was reported around 11 p.m.

Multiple law enforcement agencies are at the scene.

We also have a crew at the scene. Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.

An officer was shot late Thursday night after a burglary call in the 600 block of Albert Street, Metro 911 dispatchers say.

That officer was wearing a bulletproof vest and is said to be doing fine.

Three other people were inside the home at the time, dispatchers say.

The incident was reported around 11 p.m.

We have a crew headed to the scene, which is considered active at this time.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.