Search fatalities

Hayden Hart

Age : 20

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/18/2026

Location : Residence at the end of Waites Run Road

City : Wardensville

County : Hardy

State : West Virginia

Agency : Hardy County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Natural Resources Police

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during manhunt following traffic stop and police pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE:
Police pursued Hart after attempting to arrest him on outstanding kidnapping and wanton-endangerment warrants.
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NARRATIVE:
On 08/18/2026, 20-year-old Hayden Hart of Wardensville was shot and killed by law-enforcement officers at a residence near the end of Waites Run Road in Hardy County, West Virginia, following a two-day sequence that began with a traffic stop and police pursuit.
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The encounter began on 08/17/2026 when a Hardy County sheriff's deputy stopped Hart in Wardensville. Hart had outstanding warrants from Hampshire County for kidnapping and wanton endangerment.
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According to the Hardy County Sheriff's Office, as the deputy attempted to arrest Hart, Hart produced a firearm and fired at the deputy. The deputy returned fire and wounded Hart. Police said Hart was nevertheless able to get back into his vehicle and drive away.
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The deputy pursued Hart as he drove into the Monongahela National Forest near the end of Waites Run. Hart eventually eluded police. Authorities then obtained an additional warrant charging him with attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer.
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A multi-agency manhunt followed involving the Hardy County Sheriff's Office, Hampshire County Sheriff's Office, West Virginia State Police and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources/Natural Resources Police.
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At approximately 3:30 p.m. on 08/18/2026, officers located Hart inside a residence near the end of Waites Run Road that authorities alleged he had entered unlawfully. A Hardy County deputy, Hampshire County deputy and West Virginia Natural Resources Police officer approached the residence to take him into custody.
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Police alleged Hart again opened fire on the officers. Law-enforcement personnel returned fire and fatally wounded him. The available reporting does not identify which officer or officers fired the fatal rounds.
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The West Virginia State Police Crime Scene Team was called to process the scene and investigate the fatal shooting.
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One important date correction: some secondary labeling refers to this as an 08/17 Wardensville case because that is when the initial traffic stop, first shooting and pursuit began. Hart was actually killed on 08/18/2026, so I would use 08/18/2026 as the database Date.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Authorities have not publicly identified the Hardy County deputy involved in the initial traffic stop and first exchange of gunfire, nor the Hardy County deputy, Hampshire County deputy or Natural Resources Police officer who fired during the fatal encounter on 08/18/2026.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.whsv.com/2026/08/19/wanted-hardy-county-man-killed-after-shootouts-with-law-enforcement/
https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/hardy-county-man-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting-after-manhunt/article_70c0521f-c97d-4386-a832-d1f25ec82996.html
https://www.wdtv.com/2026/08/19/west-virginia-man-wanted-kidnapping-killed-shootout-with-police-sheriff-says/