West Virginia Man Uses Axe, Gun, Feet to Break Down Bedroom Door to Kill Wife

(LibertyInsiderNews.com) – A 77-year-old West Virginia man’s brutal attempt to murder his wife using an axe, gun, and brute force serves as a chilling reminder that domestic violence knows no age limit—and that our constitutional right to bear arms demands responsibility alongside freedom.

Story Overview

Warren Bruce Crowder, 77, used an axe to chop through his bedroom door, fired four gunshots through it, and kicked it repeatedly while his wife hid inside calling 911
Crowder confessed to police he knew his wife was hiding just 3-4 feet away when he fired, admitting he acted out of anger after an argument
The victim survived uninjured despite bullets and shrapnel filling the room, thanks to quick 911 response and barricading herself
Crowder faces attempted murder and four counts of wanton endangerment, held on $50,000 cash bond with a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 11, 2026

Elderly Rage Turns Deadly in Nitro

Warren Bruce Crowder unleashed a multi-weapon assault on his wife in the early morning hours of February 2, 2026, at their Nitro, West Virginia home on Kanawha Avenue South. Following an unspecified argument, the 77-year-old grabbed an axe and began chopping through the couple’s bedroom door while his terrified wife barricaded herself inside and dialed 911. Crowder then escalated the attack by firing a gun four times through the damaged door, fully aware his wife was hiding on a bed approximately 3-4 feet away. When officers arrived around 4 a.m., they witnessed him kicking the door, refusing to let them enter.

Police Intervention Saves Victim’s Life

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed the scene through a bedroom window, seeing the victim trapped inside while Crowder continued his assault. Officers forced entry into the home and arrested Crowder on the spot. During questioning, he confessed to the entire sequence of events, admitting his anger drove him to attack despite knowing exactly where his wife was positioned. Investigators documented four bullet holes and shrapnel scattered throughout the bedroom—physical evidence that underscores how narrowly the wife escaped death. Remarkably, she sustained no physical injuries, though the emotional trauma is undoubtedly profound.

Pattern of Violence Plagues Mountain State

This incident adds to a troubling pattern of domestic violence cases involving deadly weapons across West Virginia. The state reports approximately 20,000 domestic violence incidents annually, with recent cases highlighting similar brutality. In 2019, Hayden John Dixon received a life sentence in Fayette County for beating a woman to death with an axe. Just months ago in December 2025, a Sissonville man confessed to killing his wife following repeated fights and prior assaults dating back to March 2025. These cases reveal a consistent failure to intervene before arguments escalate to lethal force, particularly in spousal relationships where long-term tensions simmer beneath the surface.

Legal Consequences and Systemic Implications

Crowder now sits in Kanawha County jail awaiting his February 11 preliminary hearing, facing attempted murder charges that could result in decades behind bars if convicted. West Virginia’s attempted murder statute carries a maximum sentence exceeding 30 years—a potential life sentence for a 77-year-old defendant. The $50,000 cash-only bond reflects the severity prosecutors assign to this case, particularly given Crowder’s confession and the overwhelming physical evidence. Beyond individual justice, this case underscores gaps in domestic violence response for elderly couples, where warning signs may go unnoticed by family, neighbors, and social services. The incident also places additional strain on Kanawha County’s jail resources and court system.

Second Amendment Rights Come With Responsibility

For law-abiding gun owners who cherish Second Amendment protections, cases like Crowder’s highlight the importance of responsible firearm ownership and secure storage. While we fiercely defend constitutional gun rights against government overreach, we also recognize that firearms in the wrong hands—or in moments of uncontrolled rage—can turn deadly. Crowder’s willingness to fire four shots through a door at close range, knowing his wife was feet away, represents a criminal abuse of weapon access that no responsible gun advocate would defend. This incident should reinforce community conversations about recognizing domestic violence red flags and ensuring firearms remain tools of protection, not instruments of spousal terror, without surrendering our fundamental rights to bureaucratic restrictions that punish the law-abiding.