HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. – Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in Newell in the mid-morning hours of Monday, June 9, that resulted in two brothers being arrested and one suffering superficial injuries from a gunshot, according to the sheriff’s department’s social media post.
Richard Nixon, 49, of Grant Street, called 911 at approximately 0920 hrs. to report that his brother, Christopher Nixon, 45, of the same address, came after him in an allegedly threatening manner. Richard reacted by allegedly shooting at Christopher, who left the residence on foot.
Richard was waiting for deputies’ arrival, unarmed, on his front porch and was taken into custody without incident. Christopher was located a short distance away in Newell, where officers took his statement and EMS checked him out. It was determined that the bullet grazed Christopher’s leg but caused no serious injury.
Detectives secured a search warrant and recovered a handgun, one spent casing, and the bullet from inside the residence. Richard was charged with attempted malicious wounding, wanton endangerment with a firearm, and domestic battery. Christopher was also arrested and charged with domestic assault.
Shortly after 1400 hrs., while deputies were still processing the scene and arrests from the Newell incident, a second shooting incident was reported on Rural Lane in the Lawrenceville area of Chester. There, a resident reported that her daughter’s ex-boyfriend came to the residence and fired several rounds before fleeing the area.
Quick follow-up from deputies, with assistance from Chester, East Liverpool, and St. Clair Township police departments, led to information that the suspect fled to Ohio and abandoned the firearm inside the residence of another unrelated person. Deputies processed the scene on Rural Lane, where they determined that three rounds were discharged into a hillside adjacent to the residence from an AR-15 rifle. They then coordinated with Ohio law enforcement and the owner of the residence in St. Clair Township to retrieve the firearm.
No one was injured in the second incident, and the investigation is still pending.
