On Wednesday evening, a birthday party in Charleston, West Virginia, turned into a scene of chaos when a 37-year-old man, Dennis Butler, returned to the area armed with an AR-15-type rifle after being warned to slow down earlier.
Butler had driven by the area earlier in the evening when he was cautioned to slow down due to children playing. He ignored the warning and returned with the rifle, opening fire from his vehicle on the party outside the apartment complex.
A woman, who has not been identified, was in the area and lawfully carrying a weapon. She quickly reacted to the situation, engaging the threat and saving several lives.
Police spokesman Tony Hazelett praised the woman's actions, stating, 'She's just a member of the community who was carrying her weapon lawfully. And instead of running from the threat she engaged with the threat and saved several lives.'
The woman remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Charges will not be filed against her, police added.
Butler was found dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation is ongoing, and it is not yet clear how Butler obtained the weapon, which he was not legally allowed to carry as a convicted felon.
The shooting comes amid a national debate over guns following a school shooting in Texas, where a teenage gunman killed 21 people with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle that had been purchased legally.
