VIDEO: Former Huntington mayoral candidate threatened to kill Mayor Williams: complaint
CABELL COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – A man who was running in the Huntington mayoral primary and was arrested has withdrawn his case to district court, the Cabell County District Court announced.
According to a criminal complaint, 70-year-old Richard Luther went to City Hall and told security guards he was going to kill the mayor. He then said Mayor Steve Williams had threatened to kill him.
Luther was allowed to go into the payment office and told an employee that Williams and his brother-in-law “are with the Mafia,” the criminal complaint states. He then said he would ” [Williams] before he could get me.”
Another employee said Luther told them to attend the next city council meeting and bring cameras “because it was going to be very interesting,” the complaint states.
After leaving the pay office, he told officers, “He threatened to kill me, but I’m a real killer. You don’t even know the people I killed.” He also said, “You look at me like I’m a cop-buster. I’m going to kill him,” the criminal complaint states.
According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Luther was being held at the South Central Regional Jail on $25,000 bail. Court records show Luther posted bail and was released from jail.
According to court documents regarding his bail, Luther is not allowed to have any contact with Mayor Williams and is not allowed to be in or near Huntington City Hall.
Luther received 6.22% of the Republican vote for mayor of Huntington, losing in the primary to Patrick Farrell.
