Crime
Weirton 13-Year-Old Arrested on Terrorist Threats Charge
The juvenile will be charged with the felony offense of “Threatening a Terroristic Act” and will face prosecution accordingly.
Weirton, WV – A 13-year-old female student from the 7th grade has been arrested on one count of felony Terrorist Threats, according to the Weirton Police Department.
The charge stems from a social media post where individual students were threatened. The juvenile is currently being held at a juvenile detention facility and is scheduled to be arraigned in Hancock County Magistrate Court on Friday.
Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney Steven E. Dragisich released a statement regarding the incident, stating that on or about September 11, 2024, the following message was posted on Snapchat: “I am coming for you guys. This is more people on my list.” The post then listed seven juveniles who attend Weir Middle School. Additionally, references to “shooting up” Weir Middle School were made in the conversation section of the same Snapchat account and were shared with multiple students.
Following a thorough investigation by the Weirton Police Department, the juvenile responsible for the threats was detained. The juvenile will be charged with the felony offense of “Threatening a Terroristic Act” and will face prosecution accordingly.
Prosecutor Dragisich expressed gratitude to the Weirton Police Department, the Hancock County Board of Education, and the Hancock County Prosecutors Office for their dedication and efforts in identifying and apprehending the juvenile.
The Weirton Police Department worked closely with the Hancock County Prosecutors Office and the Hancock County Board of Education during the investigation.
Crime
4 Killed in Eden Crash at Carroll and Church Streets, Driver and Victims Identified
Michael Vernon, driver of dump truck involved charged.
A tragic crash in Eden, North Carolina, has left four people dead and several others injured following a multi-vehicle incident involving a dump truck and a utility work crew.
The Eden Police Department confirmed the incident occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Church Street, Carroll Street, and Park Road.
According to a news release from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP), 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon of Eden was operating a 2016 Hino dump truck owned by the City of Eden.
While traveling northbound on Carroll Street, Vernon failed to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection with Church Street.
The dump truck proceeded through the intersection, striking six pedestrians—utility workers contracted through Carolina Power and Signalization—who were performing powerline work in the area.
The dump truck continued traveling north after striking the pedestrians, colliding with an occupied bucket truck before veering off the road and crashing into a ditch.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies arrived at the scene within minutes. Four of the six pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield
- Madison Carter, 42, of Sandy Ridge
- William Evans, 35, of Randleman
- Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem
The two surviving pedestrians sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to medical facilities.
They have been identified as:
- Hunter Carter, 24, of Reidsville – transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in critical condition
- Kevin Alexander, 34, of Eden – airlifted in stable condition
Cody Rich, 31, of Reidsville, who was inside the bucket truck at the time of the crash, was transported by ground to UNC Health Rockingham with non-life-threatening injuries.
Michael Vernon sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
He has been charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Investigators confirmed that impairment is not believed to have played a role in the crash.
Further charges may be considered as the investigation progresses.
The intersection remained closed for several hours as law enforcement officers and emergency crews conducted their investigation.
The area was reopened to traffic at approximately 10:30 p.m.
In a statement, Duke Energy, which works in coordination with Carolina Power and Signalization, expressed condolences:
“We are saddened about the tragic event that happened today, and our hearts go out to the families and teammates of those involved. The safety of our employees, contractors, and customers is the highest priority at Duke Energy. We are working closely with law enforcement officials.”
The NCSHP continues to lead the investigation, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact local authorities.