Suspect in child kidnapping killed in officer-involved shooting on I-77

Samantha Perry, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va.
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Dec. 2—By GREG JORDAN

and SAMANTHA PERRY

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

CAMP CREEK — A man being sought in Louisiana for his involvement in the shooting death of a woman and a child's abduction was dead Friday after an officer-involved shooting along the West Virginia Turnpike.

Napoleon Crane, 29, died in an officer-involved shooting with the West Virginia State Police during a traffic stop, according to a statement issued by the Baton Rouge Police Department. The Baton Rouge Police issued an arrest warrant Thursday for Crane after the shooting death of Da'Ja Davis, 28.

Davis was found in the passenger seat of a vehicle deceased from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Baton Rouge investigators. Detectives believe the shooting was related to a domestic incident.

"Crane left Baton Rouge with his 6-month-old daughter," according to Baton Rouge Police. "The daughter was uninjured during the shooting."

At about 9:30 am, law enforcement officials from Louisiana contacted members of the West Virginia State Police and informed them of a suspect who was wanted for murder and child abduction being in West Virginia, according to Capt. R.A. Maddy, West Virginia State Police Deputy Chief of Staff. An Amber Alert had been issued for the abducted child and the suspect had been entered into NCIC as wanted.

Investigators immediately began tracking the suspect who was located a short time later off Exit 20 of I-77 South in Mercer County, Maddy said. When troopers approached the stolen vehicle the suspect retrieved a firearm from the vehicle and fired the weapon. A trooper returned fire. The suspect was pronounced dead on scene.

The baby was located in the back seat of the stolen vehicle unharmed, Maddy said. No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

The kidnapped infant was reported to be in the custody of Child Protective Services.

West Virginia law enforcement interaction with the suspect began in Fayette County and concluded on the turnpike. The suspect was traveling southbound on the turnpike.

One lane of Interstate 77 was closed during the incident.

— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com.