Maynard charged for killing Sheriff Crum while he took a lunch break near the courthouse.
By H. Nelson Goodson
April 4, 2013
Williamson, West Virginia - On Thursday, Tennis Melvin Maynard, 37, of Ragland was charged with two felony counts for first-degree murder in the death of Mingo County Sheriff Walter Eugene Crum, 59, and the attempted murder of Mingo County Sheriff Corporal Norman Mines. In January, Crum was elected sheriff.
On Wednesday, Sheriff Crum was fatally shot by Maynard just minutes after 12:00 p.m. while Crum was taking a lunch break.
Sheriff Crum was taking his lunch break at an underpass on Harvey Street near the Mingo County courthouse when Maynard walked up to Crum and shot him at point-blank in the head and then fled the scene. In January, Crum was elected sheriff.
Maynard was then shot nearby and taken into custody by Corporal Mines after a brief chase that ended in a crash at a bridge. Maynard got out of his vehicle and pointed a .40 caliber Glock at Mines who then fired several shots at Maynard. Maynard was wounded and is expected to survive.
The Mingo County Commission appointed Crum's widow, Rosie as interim sheriff, according to the Mingo County Sheriff's Office.
