Article Photos

PARKERSBURG The confrontation between neighbors that turned deadly Thursday night was over a son dating a black girl, the father said Friday morning.

Chad Friend, 20, of 39th Street, Parkersburg, was shot and killed Thursday afternoon after he and his father, Ronald Friend, went to speak with the neighbor over the comments about a younger son, Cory, and the girl. Friend identified the neighbor, but the newspaper is withholding the name pending charges.

"I didn't go over there for a gunfight," Friend said. "I had no idea he would do what he did."

The Parkersburg Police Department issued a press release shortly after noon on Friday stating the investigation was continuing and numerous witnesses had been interviewed.

The release also raises the possibility of self defense.

"The incident raises issues not present in the vast majority of shooting incidents such as a homeowner's right to self protection and as a result is the type of case that may be presented to a special grand jury for consideration," the release said.

Prosecutor Jason Wharton wouldn't identify the neighbor or speak to Friend's account of what happened. He did say no one was in custody and no one had been charged.

Police were still investigating what happened, Chief Gerald Board said.

"It was really a pretty hectic situation trying to sort out," Board said.

Friend said he and the neighbor exchanged words earlier after the neighbor had made derogatory remarks about Cory dating a black girl. The neighbor didn't like it, Friend said.

The neighbor "said they 'knew how to take care of people like that,'" Friend said.

Friend said he confronted the neighbor about the remarks and once put his hands on the neighbor's shoulders. The neighbor became agitated and chased Friend around the corner of the house and off the property, Friend said.

Friend went into his house for a drink of water and said he decided to return to the neighbor's and asked Chad to accompany him.

The neighbor answered his door armed with a shotgun, Friend said.

"He pushed the door open with the barrel of the gun," Friend said.

Fearing that he and Chad would be shot in the back if they retreated, Friend said he pushed the weapon upward and knocked it away from the neighbor.

"It happened so fast," Friend said.

The neighbor regained control of the weapon and fired one shot, striking Chad in the chest.

"He (Chad) did nothing wrong," Friend said. "He didn't say anything. He was just standing there."

Friend said he doesn't remember what the neighbor did next.

"I blacked out," he said.

Friend said he focused on his son, placing a shirt over the wound and loading him into a vehicle to go to Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

"On the way to the hospital Chad said 'Dad, I'm tired. I'm weak,'" Carol Friend, Chad's mother, said.