Two charged in South Franklin homicide
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
EIGHTY FOUR – State police charged two men Monday in connection with a shooting that killed an 18-year-old woman and injured a juvenile girl earlier this month.
Charged in the case are Windale Barfield Jr., 19, and Karon Whitlock, 20, both of Washington.
According to the criminal complaints, Barfield and Whitlock picked up Annalaya Wilkerson and the juvenile from the Red Roof Inn in Canton Township the evening of April 13.
Wilkerson, 18, of Monongahela, was found dead from a gunshot wound at about 11 p.m. in the 500 block of Jolly School Road, South Franklin Township. The juvenile was found nearby.
During a press conference Monday, state police Public Information Officer Rocco Gagliardi said the four were traveling together, and Wilkerson and the juvenile victim got out of the car before they were shot.
Wilkerson was a senior at Ringgold High School. Billie Joe Dawson, her mother, previously described the other shooting victim as Wilkerson’s best friend.
The juvenile, whom police have not identified, said the shooter was someone named “Winnie” before she was transported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Gagliardi said she has undergone “extensive surgeries” and police have not had the opportunity to interview her since the shooting.
According to court records, cellphone data places both Barfield and Whitlock in the area of Jolly School Road at the time the shooting would have occurred.
Each man faces felony charges of homicide, attempted homicide and aggravated assault. Whitlock faces an additional charge of prohibited possession of a firearm.
There are active warrants for the arrest of Barfield and Whitlock. Gagliardi said they should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 724-223-5200.