Two more charged in shooting death of 18-year-old
State police filed court documents charging two additional people in connection with last month’s fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Ringgold High School senior, revealing details of how the attack was carried out.
On Thursday, police charged Anthony Kristopher Barfield, 17, of Washington, with homicide and conspiracy charges in the death of Annalaya Wilkerson of Monongahela. Barfield was not present at the scene of the South Franklin Township shooting, but he is accused of planning the crime with his brother, Windale Barfield Jr.
Also charged Thursday was Jeheili Yonshay Cochran, 24, of Washington, who faces felonies of hindering apprehension. Cochran is related to the Barfields.
Warrants have been issued for their arrest. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said investigators are attempting to track them down, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact state police. Walsh declined to comment on whether officials believe they are still in the area.
Windale Barfield, 19, and Karon Whitlock, 20, both of Washington, were previously charged with homicide and turned themselves into police last month.
Windale Barfield and Whitlock are accused of shooting and killing Wilkerson at about 11 p.m. April 13 in the 500 block of Jolly School Road. Also shot was a 17-year-old girl, who police have not identified. She was transported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. She remains hospitalized.
Billie Jo Dawson, Wilkerson’s mother, was not surprised to hear that police charged Anthony Barfield, who will be tried as an adult.
“That I already knew. I knew he was involved in some sort of way,” Dawson said Friday.
Police spoke to the juvenile victim in the hospital on April 25. She told investigators that the previous day she and Wilkerson were with a group of people at a South Strabane Township hotel, where they spent the night. The next day, they went to the Red Roof Inn in Canton Township.
According to the complaint, Wilkerson had been texting Anthony Barfield about meeting that night. The 17-year-old told police that he sent Windale Barfield and Whitlock to pick up Wilkerson and her at the hotel.
Court records state that Windale Barfield parked down the road from the house where they were supposedly going to meet his brother, and told the girls they had to walk the rest of the way.
The juvenile victim said they were about six feet in front of Windale Barfield and Whitlock. She recalled hearing Wilkerson say, “Winnie,” before gunshots. According to the complaint, the juvenile was shot in the back.
Police interviewed Whitlock last week, and he provided a similar version of events. He claimed to be unaware that Windale Barfield intended to kill Wilkerson.
According to the complaint, Windale Barfield asked Whitlock to pick him up earlier that day. Whitlock claimed to initially be driving the car when they left Red Roof Inn, but that Barfield took over because he was drunk. When Barfield stopped the car and they all got out to walk, Whitlock told investigators that both he and Wilkerson said they felt like it was a “set-up.”
Whitlock claims that Windale Barfield was the only one who fired shots at the two females. He said that while he bent down to tie his shoes, Barfield began shooting.
According to court records, as the two drove away from the scene, Barfield was laughing and playing the song “Love in this Club” by Usher. He allegedly told Whitlock that the killing was gang-related and believed that Wilkerson was plotting against him with a rival gang.
After the shooting Windale Barfield allegedly explained to Whitlock how Anthony Barfield knew what was going to happen.
“Whitlock went on to say that Anthony had the (expletive) lined up and they were never going to meet Anthony ever, their plan from the jump was to have that (shooting) happen,” police wrote in the complaint.
Anthony Barfield himself also told Whitlock he had arranged the shooting, according to the complaint.
Cochran is accused of picking up Whitlock and taking him to Monessen after arrest warrants were issued for him and Windale Barfield. She allegedly told Whitlock, “I got rid of the gun for y’all” and “they’re not gonna find the gun,” according to the complaint. Cochran then drove Whitlock to meet Windale Barfield, who had fled to New York City after the shooting, court documents state.
On Friday morning, Dawson expressed frustration that investigators have not kept her in the loop regarding her daughter’s slaying.
“The news (media) is who notified me of the new charges,” Dawson said.
She hopes for improved communication with law enforcement as the case moves forward.
“Why aren’t you calling the mother? We’re getting no updates, nothing,” Dawson said.
Windale Barfield and Whitlock are being held in the Washington County jail without bond. They are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. May 29.