Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – A Raleigh County man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his brother on July 6.
Ralph Adkins is being held without bond in Southern Regional Jail.
According to a criminal complaint, the Raleigh County Emergency Operations Center received the call from the victim and the suspect’s mother about the shooting just before midnight on Saturday.
When state troopers arrived, the 911 operator told Adkins and his mother to leave the house. Adkins was arrested after telling troopers he shot his brother.
Troopers then searched the house and found the victim on the couch with a gunshot wound to his face. According to the complaint, troopers were told that Adkins and his brother had gotten into a fight earlier, but were seemingly getting along afterwards.
Then, Adkins brought a handgun from his bedroom and fired a single shot at the victim, who was reportedly rolling a cigarette when he was shot. Adkins was taken to the State Police Detachment in Beckley and again admitted to the shooting.
We’ll keep following this and will update you as we learn more.
