( CNN ) -- Investigators arrested a suspect but were still searching for a motive Wednesday after a West Virginia sheriff known for his tough stance on drug dealers was shot dead in his patrol vehicle . Mingo County Sheriff Walter E. `` Eugene '' Crum was eating lunch just blocks away from a courthouse when he was gunned down , officials said . Tennis Melvin Maynard , 37 , is accused in the killing , West Virginia State Police First Sgt . Michael Baylous said . The suspect parked his car close to the sheriff 's SUV and shot through the window twice , hitting the sheriff twice in the head , according to a state official who was briefed on the investigation . After a brief chase , Maynard was shot by a sheriff 's deputy in Delbarton , West Virginia , after he wrecked the vehicle he was driving and raised his weapon , West Virginia State Police Capt . Dave Nelson told reporters . Maynard remained hospitalized Wednesday night after undergoing surgery to treat multiple gunshot wounds , Baylous said . Investigators were still trying to identify a possible motive . On the way to the hospital , Maynard spoke with police , but Baylous did n't specify what he said . Authorities were hoping to speak more with Maynard now that he 's out of surgery . `` He said some things to us , and we 're still trying to make sense of it , '' Baylous said . `` It could be interpreted in different ways . '' At a news conference Wednesday , officials said Crum had taken office as sheriff in January and quickly earned respect from many in the community . `` He and his deputies and other law enforcement agencies have worked tirelessly to wipe out crime in our county , especially targeting the drug dealers who spread the disease of addiction among our residents , '' said John Mark Hubbard , president of the Mingo County Commission . `` Pray for the residents of Mingo County as we struggle to understand why someone who fought so freely and selflessly on behalf of all of us was taken so tragically , '' he said . Crum also served as a county magistrate and a special investigator for the prosecutor 's office , Hubbard said . The sheriff 's slaying shook the rural county , which normally sees only one or two slayings per year , said Lt. Randy Hatfield of the Mingo County Sheriff 's Office . `` It 's devastating , '' Hatfield said . `` It 's a big blow to the community . '' The Williamson Daily News reported that Crum was in his vehicle in downtown Williamson when a man drove into the parking lot , approached Crum 's sport-utility vehicle and shot him point-blank . A witness saw the shooting , called 911 , and gave police a vehicle tag number that led them to the suspect , Hatfield said . Investigators believe a handgun was used . Asked whether officials thought there was any connection between Crum 's slaying and the recent killings of a Colorado prison official or the slayings of two Texas prosecutors , Hatfield said , `` I hope not , '' but declined to elaborate further . Crum was married and had children and grandchildren . Gov . Earl Ray Tomblin issued a statement , saying in part , `` Our thoughts and prayers are with the Crum family . ''
Sheriff : Police say Tennis Melvin Johnson , 37 , is accused in the shooting . Sheriff : Police are trying to pin down a possible motive , police say . The suspect was injured after he was shot by a deputy , a state police official says . State Police : The sheriff was shot twice in the head through the window of an SUV .