KENOVA, W.Va. (WCHS) — A multi-state crime spree gripped the Tri-State last week. A murder, kidnapping and hostage situation ended when police shot and killed the suspect David Maynard.

Since then, area residents are questioning the lack of communication to the public regarding a shelter-in-place.

Becky Meade lives in Kenova, close to where Maynard took hostages at a gas station. She spoke with Eyewitness News about the night gunfire erupted near her hometown.

“I was alarmed about it,” Meade said. “I went to the WCHS app and saw the gentlemen online, live streaming what was going on. It's a shame we found out that way because we live in a small community. We don't feel these dangers.”

Police said it all started in Ironton, Ohio, where Maynard killed his step-father before kidnapping a woman in Louisa, Kentucky. Investigators said Maynard fled across the boarder to Kenova, West Virginia, and ended up in Wayne County, where he was fatally shot by police.

Meade and others didn't know about a shelter in-place unless they heard from friends or searched on social media.

“We get Amber Alerts across our phones all the time. If there was something like that, that would really get your attention like an alarm, not just a shelter in place,” Meade said. “We need to know when we're in danger.”

Kenova Police Chief Tony Poston spoke with Eyewitness News about opening lines of communication between law enforcement and the public.

“In a situation like that, we’re so fixed on what’s going on at the time,” Poston said. “The notification came through the news is pushed to the back, unfortunately, until we got the situation under control.”

Poston said after law enforcement agencies from all three states complete brief from last weekend’s events, they’ll meet next week to come up with a plan to get critical information out to the public.

“It's a learning curve for everyone. That's something we’ll go back and talk about and it'll be mentioned how can we include media much quicker,” Poston said.