WILBUR - Howard P. Shriver, of Wilbur, was arrested by the Tyler County Sheriff's Office Tuesday on charges of attempted murder, nighttime burglary and violation of a domestic protection order.
On Tuesday at about 12:10 a.m. Tyler County deputies were dispatched to a residence about one mile from Wilbur, officials said.
Tyler County dispatchers received the call in reference to a possible violation of a domestic violence order.
Tyler County Sheriff's Office Sgt. R. Dean Pratt said neighbors of Shriver observed the suspect driving toward his home without his headlights turned on. The lane the suspect was driving down led to the home where his wife and two young children were.
Before the deputy arrived, dispatchers were told by the original caller that he allegedly heard five gunshots coming from the Shrivers' property and saw the subject drive away, in the direction of Doddridge County, Pratt said. The alleged gunshots heard were later believed to have been the struggle the suspect had breaking into the home and a vehicle, police said.
Tyler County dispatchers called Doddridge County, Marion County and Harrison County 911 dispatchers to issue a "be on the look out" for the subject.
As the Tyler County deputy arrived on the scene, a woman came to the caller's home looking for her daughter who had fled for help. Officials said the home was on a dead end lane about one mile from Wilbur, with only one other residence on the road. The deputy was able to locate the juveniles.
Officials said Shriver had other domestic charges pending and had come home after obtaining court documents.
According to the police report, the suspect appeared to have disabled the telephone and used a splitting maul to gain entry into the home, battering open the door and allegedly threatening his wife and children with the splitting maul.
The daughter was able to flee the home on foot, while the mother and son attempted to flee in a vehicle, police said. The suspect then allegedly tried to attack them while in the vehicle, disabling the car. The police report states the mother and her juvenile son fled on foot into the fields and weeds nearby, coming out only after they saw the suspect leave.
No injuries were reported and no firearm was found.
Officials said around 1:38 p.m. the suspect was stopped by Shinnston Police and taken into custody. The suspect is facing felony charges in Harrison County, W.Va., along with an attempted murder charge, nighttime burglary and violation of a domestic protection order in Tyler County.
Shriver is incarcerated in the North Central Regional Jail in Greenwood on the charges. More chargers are pending after further investigation by the Tyler County Sheriff's Office, officials said. Shriver will be arraigned in Tyler County Magistrate Court where bond will be set.
Assistance in finding the suspect was provided by the Tyler County deputies, the Doddridge County Sheriff's Office, West Virginia State Police and officers from agencies in Harrison and Marion counties.
