Fairmont man wanted for attempted first-degree murder arrested in Kanawha County | Tuesday's news

CLARKSBURG – Federal agents on Monday arrested a Fairmont man wanted in Marion County on charges of kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder.

U.S. Marshals arrested Jamie Ray Jones, 32, at about 8:30 a.m. Monday at a home in Kelly's Creek in Kanawha County. Jones was wanted by Fairmont police. Police were also seeking Jones in another case of accessory to murder.

Jones was arrested by officers from the U.S. Marshals Service Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division Task Force in the Southern District of West Virginia.

According to a press release, Jones and others allegedly forcibly abducted a man with a firearm from a residence in Morgantown on April 27, 2023. After the abduction, the suspects, including Jones, held the man against his will and threatened to kill him while they searched for the man's brother in Fairmont.

Police eventually found the brother near 321 Maple Avenue Extension and began shooting at him from the vehicle. One of the suspects was also hit by gunfire during the exchange while the kidnapping victim fled the vehicle.

Fairmont Police issued arrest warrants for Jones on May 5, 2023. Jones is also alleged to have assisted a man who committed premeditated murder on March 23, 2023.

In this case, another man who had committed a murder near 788 Cleveland Ave. contacted Jones to help him escape. Jones instructed the man to flee to Ohio, where he was found and arrested. Jones also warned the alleged perpetrator that police were already at the scene of the murder.

On May 9, 2023, Fairmont Police requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals' Mountain State Fugitive Task Force in locating Jones. Investigators spent hours trying to locate Jones, following leads in at least five states.

On Monday morning, those efforts led police to the Southern District of West Virginia and the arrest of Jones at the home of a co-worker.

During the arrest, Jones attempted to flee the apartment, but the arrest team was already on site and prevented him from escaping. He was arrested without incident.

The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department, Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources also assisted in the arrest.

At press time, Jones was still being held at the South Central Regional Jail without bail.