The hills of Scott County, Virginia, are known for their natural beauty, but on December 23, 1955, they became the scene of a deadly confrontation that shocked the community and made national headlines.
Deputy Ira Skeen, 53, was in the Slant community that day, performing the routine task of posting election notices. While posting one to a store door, he encountered Charlie Duncan, a 60-year-old gunsmith. Witnesses later reported Duncan approached Skeen and accused him of past arrests, though Skeen claimed to have never met him. What began as a tense conversation escalated into tragedy when Duncan lunged for the officer’s holster. When that failed, he drew his own weapon and fired three shots, killing Skeen instantly.
Duncan walked to a nearby store, brandishing his gun and demanding to be taken home. The witnesses, describing Duncan as intoxicated and erratic, complied. Officers who searched his residence discovered an arsenal, with one room containing 25 firearms of various types. However, Duncan was nowhere to be found.
The murder of Deputy Skeen led to one of the most intense manhunts in Scott County’s history. Law enforcement from neighboring areas joined the search, bringing tear gas, high-powered rifles, grenades, and even a machine gun. The search spanned days, but Duncan managed to evade capture until January 2, 1956, when he surrendered the day after a new sheriff took office.
In his trial six months later, Duncan claimed self-defense, stating that Skeen had drawn his gun first, struck him, and broken his glasses. However, forensic evidence showed Skeen’s gun was still in its holster when he was killed. Duncan was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison.
