Huntington Police investigators found the body of a deceased white male along the banks of the Ohio River near McClelland Park in Huntington’s Highlawn neighborhood Friday afternoon, March 22, while investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday, March 21, in the 2700 block of North Staunton Road.
Investigators have confirmed that the identity of the deceased white male is that of shooting suspect Clyde Crawford, 52, of Huntington.
He appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officers canvassed the area near the shooting scene Friday, and the Huntington Police Department’s Drug Unit conducted surveillance on several possible locations for Crawford and associates of Crawford.
The Police Department also coordinated with the Metro Drug Enforcement Network Team from Kanawha and Putnam counties and had an officer from the Saint Albans Police Department fly a drone over the riverbank north of the scene.
Simultaneously, the Police Department coordinated with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department to have a K-9 Team begin tracking a scent from the scene of the shooting.
The K-9, a bloodhound named “Bailey”, ultimately led officers to the area of McClelland Park, where the white male’s deceased body was located along the riverbank.
Investigators also have identified the deceased victims of Thursday’s shooting — Sharon Crawford, 51, and Alexis B. Beard, 26. Sharon was the wife of the suspect, Clyde Crawford. The surviving juvenile victim is a 20-month-old female, who is listed in stable condition at a local hospital.
The investigation will continue in an effort to thoroughly document the shooting incident, but no other information will be released at this time.
The Huntington Police Department would like to thank the aforementioned law enforcement agencies as well as the West Virginia State Police, Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, ATF and the West Virginia Division of Corrections Probation and Parole Service for all of their assistance.
