Friend remembers woman shot and killed; suspect arrested

UPDATE 2/20/23 @ 6:30 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A man was arrested Monday in connection with a deadly shooting that happened during the weekend in Charleston, according to the Charleston Police Department.

Peris Fallins, 36, of Charleston, also known as “Moody,” is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Julia Nell Wickline, 40. The shooting happened around 3:05 p.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of Grant Street. Wickline was found on the front porch of a home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say the suspect fired a number of shots at Wickline. According to the criminal complaint, the suspect was spotted on video surveillance and wearing all black. Officers found six fired cartridge casings in the street where the suspect was standing during the shooting before running away.

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ORIGINAL STORY

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - According to Charleston Police, a woman identified as Julia Wickline was shot and killed Sunday afternoon while sitting on her porch along Grant Street.

While talking on her phone, police say she was approached by a man who briefly spoke with her before firing several shots.

After pulling the trigger, the man took off toward Central Avenue, police say. The incident happened around 3 p.m. Sunday.

Wickline was pronounced dead at the scene, and her friend Amber Bescoach was devastated to hear what happened.

“I yelled. I was like ‘no not Julia’. I didn’t believe her, screamed, mad. I couldn’t understand why she’s been through so much,” Bescoach said.

Bescoach said Wickline had been through a lot and was making progress in her battle with addiction. She said Wickline had been sober for about six months.

“Being able to just see the light and the glow come back into her face is probably one of my favorites. And her getting her 90-day chip and how excited she was and wanting us to be there for every milestone,” Bescoach said.

Bescoach said her friend was brave to face her addiction head-on.

“Extremely caring and brave, it is hard to admit your faults and that you messed up and come back and still hold your head up high and say ‘hey I am still living I will give this another try,” Bescoach said. “She survived coming back in and then, being taken down like this.”

As police search for the person accused of killing her friend, Bescoach says she wants justice.

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