CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston police say they have a person of interest in the latest shooting death on the city’s West Side.
Shannon Cade, 20, was shot inside a home Friday on Mathews Avenue. A 14-year-old girl was also shot. Cade later died at CAMC General. The girl suffered non-life threatening injuries. It was the third homicide in Charleston in the past week.
Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper told reporters Monday the cases are not connected, but they are continuing to investigate an ongoing dispute between the individuals.
“There are a group of individuals who have had what’s typically referred to as a ‘beef’ or a ‘quarrel’,” Cooper said at a joint press conference with Kanawha County prosecutors at City Hall.
The dispute appears to be between two groups called the “Young Restless Gunnaz” and “The Shine Boys,” Cooper said.
“There could be retaliation involved in some and there could be some perceived retaliation in another homicide which we believe has possibly lead to some misunderstanding between the already feuding groups,” he said.
Eight people were arrested over the last couple days in connection to the recent homicides.
The last murder of 2015 happened Dec. 31 when J’shaad Jones, 18, of Charleston, was killed near Central Avenue. He was found behind the Kickback Lounge and later died at CAMC General. Marlon Labron Rush, 36, was arrested the same day and charged with first degree murder. Jones was wanted on a malicious wounding charge for a Dec. 13 shooting on Bream Street.
Another shooting death took place just days before on 7th Avenue where Bryan Rogers, 29, of Ripley, was shot to death over $3,000 worth of heroin. Police arrested Tremaine Jackson, 23, of Charleston a few days after the incident. He was charged with first degree murder and domestic battery.
Chief of Police Brent Webster said they have been working around the clock to try to prevent more crime from happening and to provide the community with answers.
“It’s been a tough eight days for us, a tough eight days for the community as well,” Webster said. “We’re not looking for second chances for these guys. We’re looking to get them off the street and build strong cases.”
Cooper said they’re hoping these arrests will “slow the momentum of the feud” on the West Side.
“In our mind it does make the city safer,” he said. “Generally, someone who shoots someone is prone to that. It’s not normally just a one time thing. If they’re in jail, they can’t get shot and they can’t shoot anybody.”
The other six that were charged are listed below:
Lamar Tyrell Coles, 24, was arrested on a state warrant for transferring/receiving a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was the suspect vehicle in a burglary/grand larceny auto on Ridgemont Road.
Frankie Dewayne McNeal, 21, was arrested Sunday on a state warrant for forgery of a public document from a traffic stop in August in which he also was charged with felony possession of narcotics, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle and a prohibited person (felon in possession of a firearm).
Malik Ahkeem Hawk, 18, was arrested Monday on a state warrant for a charge of wanton endangerment involving a firearm from an incident which occurred August 2015 in South Charleston.
Jalil Myers, 19, was arrested Monday on a state warrant for a charge of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin).
Maylik Watson, 22, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, obstruction and a third-degree sexual assault warrant.
Antwan “Twig” Curnell, 26, was arrested on a state warrant for fleeing in a vehicle.