West Bellaire residents are reaching for their guns - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

It's a community under siege and they're ready to fight back.

In West Bellaire, residents are still in shock over the murder of their neighbor, a 92-year-old woman.

First, there is a rumor swirling, to the effect that three people have been arrested on suspicion of the murder.

And there are some variations of the rumor.

"I've heard they have one guy in custody, and that he's telling them about two other guys who were with him," said John Irwin of First Avenue.

The rumor spread like wildfire on social media.

One woman said the person who told her even knew the suspects' names.

But the police chief and prosecutor say they don't have three suspects in custody.

In fact, they don't have three suspects at all.

And residents are arming themselves for a bit of vigilante justice, if necessary.

The police chief says one woman in the West Bellaire neighborhood showed him the loaded gun she keeps by the door.

He says another is keeping a loaded gun in every room.

"You can't let them come in and kill you," says John Irwin. "You have to keep something for protection."

"Hey, shoot them!" advises George Early of Neffs. "That's what you should do if they try to get into your house. You don't want them to kill you first."

"Absolutely," agrees Sam Travis of West Bellaire. "Mine is (loaded.) I'm ready."

Police Chief Mike Kovalyk has a message for the killer.

"Do the right thing. Turn yourself in," he says.

He says he appreciates all the tips he has received from people all over Belmont County, and he still needs more.

He says the atmosphere is tense, people are armed and angry, and there's a murderer on the loose.

Neighbors say it's so uncharacteristic of West Bellaire.

"It's sad," says Travis. "We live in a nice neighborhood and it's been turned upside-down."

Anyone with information or suspicions is urged to call Bellaire Police at (740) 676-3322.