Escort shoots, kills attacker, who may be responsible for other deaths

Neal Falls was shot as he attacked an escort, cops say. (Charleston Police Dept.)

Investigators don’t yet know what Neal Falls was planning to do with the axes, shovel, bleach, knives and machete he stored in the trunk of his vehicle. Or the handcuffs and pistol they found in his pocket. Or the list of online escorts he kept.

And they might not find out, because Falls was shot dead by an online escort on July 18 as cops say he attempted to strangle her inside her home, FOX12 reported.

“I opened the door and he said ‘live or die’”

— Escort on 911 call

Police in Charleston, W. Va., have ruled the death of the 45-year-old Oregon man a justifiable homicide. They said Falls met an unnamed escort on Backpage.com, and when he met up with her, he tried to kill her.

Numerous weapons were found in the trunk of Neal Falls' vehicle, according to police. (Charleston Police Dept.)

“Nearly immediately after he stepped into her apartment, he said 'live or die' and a struggle ensued,” Lt. Steve Cooper told The Huffington Post. “[Falls] laid his gun on a counter so that he could get a firmer grip around the victim's throat with both his hands and she was able to scoop that weapon up and fire one round, killing Mr. Falls.”

Police in Ohio are looking to see if Falls is connected to six deaths and disappearances, FOX12 reported. Some of the Ohio victims have been linked to prostitution.

Cops say Neal Falls was carrying a pistol and handcuffs in his pocket. (Charleston Police Dept.)

The escort who shot Falls can be heard on a 911 call posted on The Huffington Post in an extremely distressed state describing the encounter.

“I opened the door and he said ‘live or die,’” she told the operator. “I wrestled him, and he was going to kill me.”

The escort had marks around her neck, scratches on her fingers and blood on her, according to a woman who was also on the call. The escort was hospitalized and treated for several injuries, including broken vertebrae, according to The Huffington Post.