TLDR
Authorities in Jackson County, West Virginia, arrested Chase Fleming after a two-county, snowbound manhunt. He is charged with malicious assault for allegedly shooting his father in the face with a crossbow; the victim is hospitalized in stable condition.
Charges and Allegations
In a statement reported by Fox News, the sheriff’s department said Fleming has been charged with malicious assault under West Virginia law. Officials described the attack as occurring inside the victim’s home after Fleming allegedly entered with a preloaded crossbow.
During an interview with local outlet WV MetroNews, cited by Fox News, Sheriff Ross Mellinger said the argument between father and son escalated until the crossbow was fired. The bolt, he said, entered just below the victim’s left eye and exited the back of his head. The sheriff told the outlet, “How the guy is still alive is beyond me, it’s really remarkable.” The department has said the victim remains in stable condition.
The Search and Arrest
After the shooting, Fleming allegedly fled the scene in a pickup truck. According to the sheriff’s department account, the vehicle later crashed, prompting a ground search through parts of Jackson and neighboring Roane County. Deputies deployed multiple K-9 units and drones across roughly seven miles of snow-covered, wooded terrain.
Officials said the search culminated in a lengthy foot pursuit before Fleming was discovered hiding under a rock formation on a remote ridge. He was taken into custody without resistance. Following his arrest, Fleming was transported to a hospital for observation after deputies attempted to have him medically cleared for incarceration, according to the department.
What Comes Next in the Case
The sheriff’s department has indicated that additional charges are possible, depending on medical assessments and further investigation into the events inside the home. For now, Fleming is being held on the malicious assault count, and officials have said that bond has not yet been set.
The case will move next into the county court system, where prosecutors’ charging decisions, defense motions, and any future hearings will determine how the allegations are tested. Until then, the public record consists of a single filed charge, an injured victim recovering in the hospital, and an arrest that followed a difficult winter search.
