Police on Monday released little new information in the investigation of the man found dead Saturday in his West Side home, but did reveal that the man had been shot and that investigators believe others may have information that could help them solve the case.
No charges have been filed and no suspects have been named.
John Thomas Coleman, 50, of Charleston, was found dead in his apartment in the 1700 block of Seventh Avenue on the West Side Saturday, according to Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives at the Charleston Police Department.
Cooper said a neighbor had gone to check on Coleman because he hadn't heard from him all day. They discovered the body at about 5 p.m.
"He seemed to be well-liked in his neighborhood," Cooper said. "He was 50 years old and friends and neighbors have been checking in with us regularly concerned about the case and adding their thoughts about him and any information that they may have that they think could be helpful."
The investigation has led to a lead in the case that detectives have been following "pretty much around the clock for the last couple of days," Cooper said.
He said officers have interviewed "potential" witnesses and continue to analyze evidence from the crime scene.
"We have interviewed several potential witnesses and several acquaintances of Mr. Coleman, just trying to put together the pieces of his life and what was going on over the last few days or weeks of his life," he said.
Cooper wouldn't say whether the home showed signs of a break-in, how many times Coleman was shot, whether a gun was recovered, whether any suspects have been questioned, whether drugs were found in the home, whether anything was missing from the home and when Coleman is believed to have died.
He said it was clear the death was not a suicide, but would not reveal how police determined that.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.