On December 8th, 2025, a shooting occurred in South Parkersburg, West Virginia. I was there. This is what I witnessed.
For almost a year and a half, I’ve waited to pick up my grandkids at their elementary school. We park horizontally in a parking lot near the school. Never during this time would I have ever expected to be so close to a shooting, but on December 8th, that occurred less than ten yards from where I was parked.
Lately, I’ve arrived early (~1:15 p.m.) to write on my laptop since I’m working on the final edits of a young adult mystery novel. It’s quiet, I’ve no Internet, and for the most part, I often get a lot more done in a short amount of time than I do at home. Despite being so early and during a harsh winter wind, three other drivers were already parked in line to pick up students. This was ninety minutes before the school’s dismissal, too. I’m not sure the exact time these other three drivers arrive, but I’ve never been the first in line.
Around 1:45 p.m., a black car pulled into the parking lot and parked near the basketball courts. I thought nothing of it. Sometimes people park and shoot hoops before the parking lot is filled with drivers to pick up students. But today, the bitter winds would dissuade almost anyone from getting out to shoot baskets. Still, I thought nothing of this.
About fifteen minutes passed before the passenger side of the car flung open and the rapid gunfire commenced. The shooter emptied the clip in his gun. Smoke from the shooting rose from the car. A young man ran from the parking lot and to the street where he hurried into the passenger side of another car. The car sped off and the one in the parking lot quickly sped after it. I had not noticed the young man approach the car until after the gunfire began.
Another driver, who was parked to the right of my car, said that on his way to this parking lot, he had seen the young man dropped off at the side of the road down the street. The man had apparently walked across another parking lot to the car at the basketball courts. He said that the other shooter had stood near a trash can and pulled a gun from his back pocket (possibly behind his belt) and aimed at the parked vehicle.
Everything had happened so fast that I was trying to make sense of it all. I suppose it was shock, but I had missed the opportunity to take a picture of the car’s tag before they sped away. The lady in the car to my right called 9-1-1 and then drove to the school to possibly see if she could get her child before the lockdown. Several minutes passed before anyone emerged from their vehicle.
I texted my daughter at her workplace to inform her of the situation, so she’d know the situation before I got out and talked to others.
Shell casings were on the pavement beside the car with the opened passenger door. A gun (not sure what type, but was longer than handgun) lie on the pavement near the women’s restroom.
Within minutes, police officers covered the area. I was impressed at how quickly they arrived at the scene. Sheriff deputies, city police officers, and a couple of state troopers drove the streets. Several ambulances drove the streets, along with a fire truck, and officers drove street by street looking for the shooters. Police tape enclosed us and police reports were being filled out. The school was lock-downed quickly.
When an officer asked for my information, I asked if the shooters had been caught. He indicated that they had. I asked if any had suffered injuries and he said, “Unfortunately, at least one had, but he was uncertain if it was the victim.”
After the reports and information was taken, they allowed us to pick up our children/grandchildren. The shock of the situation waned and a slight numbness overcame me. Being so close to the fired guns registered. I was thankful none of the gunfire had been in the direction of those parked around me. Whatever beef between these individuals definitely blinded them to the welfare of those around them. A roll of houses are on the other side of the basketball courts and the swimming pool parking lot. A stray bullet could’ve been fatal.
I then went to pick up my grandson at his bus drop-off site. My daughter texted and said that her coworker had been texted someone at WTAP and they wanted to interview me. Juwan Allen, a reporter with WTAP met with me and did a quick interview. I shared with him the same information as written in this blog.
One of the other grandparents had said, “This world is a crazy place.”
I said, “Seems to be getting crazier everyday.”
Witnessing such craziness unscathed definitely makes you appreciate life more. Until next time, tell the ones you love how much they mean to you. Be safe.
UPDATE: One shooter was charged with attempted murder.