KANAWHA COUNTY, WV — A Kanawha County homeowner fatally shot an armed intruder Friday afternoon after returning home to find the suspect inside his residence.

The incident occurred around 12:21 p.m. in the 300 block of Lick Branch Road in the Rocky Fork area. According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner arrived and was confronted by the intruder, who was armed with both a baseball bat and a knife. The confrontation escalated to a physical altercation outside the home, during which the homeowner, who was armed, fired on the suspect.

The intruder was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s identity, pending notification of next of kin.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigative Section are working with the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. No charges have been filed against the homeowner at this time, and the case remains under investigation.

Local traffic on Lick Branch Road will be restricted for several hours as investigators process the scene, and residents are advised to avoid the area.

Self-defense experts often stress the importance of maintaining situational awareness when returning home. In similar cases, immediate recognition of a potential threat and quick defensive action have been critical to preventing serious injury or death.