GhLinks Media
Charleston police have released new information after a woman was shot and killed by a man who said his gun accidentally discharged while he was wiping it down in a gas station parking lot.
Jacob Fields, 18, of Charleston is now charged with wanton endangerment and involuntary manslaughter, according to a news release from the Charleston Police Department.
Around 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday, police said Tiffany Clerenia Adkins, 42, of Marmet suffered a single gunshot wound to the head while she was walking in the Sheetz parking lot located in the 5600 block of MacCorkle Avenue in Kanawha City.
Police said Fields told them he was “wiping” down the barrel of his gun when it accidentally went off.
After further investigation, police said it was learned that Adkins’ car was parked at a gas pump and was facing MacCorkle Avenue. Adkins got out of her car to pump gas and then started walking toward the front door of the store.
While she passed in front of Fields’ car, the gun discharged inside his vehicle.
Police said the bullet passed through the front windshield and struck Adkins in the back of the head.
She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Fields was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and is being held on a $50,000 bond.
He will be back in court June 4 for a preliminary hearing.
