BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – On Wednesday night, at around 6:30 p.m., one Summers County man was shot and killed in the parking lot of Pet Supplies Plus in Beckley.
Upon further investigation and based on evidence found at the scene, Beckley Police believe it was a drug transaction turned deadly.
“When they arrived, they discovered one man was suffering from a single gunshot wound,” Detective Nick Walters said. “The male was then transported to a local hospital where he died as a result of those injuries. That male has been identified as Troy Williams.”
So far, there has been one arrest made in connection as police arrested Latoya Monique Carter in Charleston as she has been charged with being an accessory after the fact. However, police believe there are multiple people involved.
Investigators were able to use Walmart’s security footage to see the white Ford Fusion carrying the group of people.
“When we did an inquiry of the license plate, we discovered that it was a rental vehicle which led us back to a rental agreement that was signed by the female we arrested last night, and we were able to obtain additional footage that showed her there on scene at Walmart prior to the shooting,” Detective Walters said.
For those who knew Willams, the 39-year-old victim from Summers County, when they got the news, they were in disbelief.
“Troy and I were together for almost 18 years,” Amanda Smith, Williams’ ex-fiancé, said. “We’ve been separated for three years, and he was a really wonderful person, and he brought a lot of smiles to peoples’ faces.”
Now it is about finding the other individuals involved including finding out who did the actual shooting, but police say it helps that it happened in public and in daylight.
Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Keller says even though it seems the world has stopped, this has proven crime certainly has not.
“Unfortunately, we have way too many cases in which we have fatal shootings in broad daylight in front of people,” she said.
This case is still under investigation and if you have any information you are encouraged to call the Beckley Police Department at (304) 256-1708.
Carter is currently in South Central Regional Jail awaiting arraignment.
