The man wanted by Salem Police on numerous charges, including Felony Murder, was apprehended Tuesday morning in Ravenswood, West Virginia.
Zane Chandler Christian, 25, of Christiansburg was taken into custody by authorities in the small Jackson County town that is located just off I-77 along the Ohio River.
“Whenever a case stretches across several jurisdiction and in this case into another state, it takes a team effort to bring a suspect into custody,” says Mike Crawley, Salem Police Chief. “We greatly appreciate the assistance the Virginia State Police, Roanoke County Police, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service provided to make sure Zane Christian was taken into custody.”
On Monday, November 9, at approximately 1:55 p.m., Christian allegedly shot and killed 27-year-old Rico A. Turner in the parking lot of the Lakeside Shopping Center in the 100 block of Electric Road. Turner was still alive when officers arrived on the scene and he was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Early Monday night the Bedford resident succumbed to his injuries.
After investigating the scene, Salem Police filed charges against Christian that included Malicious Wounding, Reckless Handling of a Firearm and three counts of Child Neglect. The Felony Murder charge was added after Mr. Turner’s passing. The Child Neglect charges were filed because three young children were present at the scene at the time of the shooting.
Christian fled the Lakeside parking lot Monday afternoon around 2 p.m. and headed south. He was apprehended without incident just before noon this Tuesday in Ravenswood, which is about three-and-a-half hours from Salem.
This multi-jurisdictional incident remains under investigation.