Police still searching for Searights homicide suspects
State police released images Wednesday of two men wanted for homicide in the shooting of a 27-year-old man in a Searights apartment May 24.
Vincent Irving Jones, 27, of Charleston, West Virginia, also known as James Allen Cheeks, and Christian Tremaine Carpenter, 23, of Highland Park, Michigan, also known as “Cuz,” are charged with criminal homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide in the death of Trenton Grooms.
Police said the men may be driving a rented gray 2015 Kia Optima with Arizona license plate number BLP1268. The vehicle was rented from Enterprise Rent-A-Car May 23 in Charleston, police said.
According to the affidavit, Grooms broke a window at 214 Village of Searights in Menallen Township and climbed inside, where he was met by the suspects who allegedly confronted him. Police allege Jones fired four rounds at Grooms, hitting him once in the leg. As Grooms tried to escape, the two allegedly punched him. Grooms fled down Route 40 about half a mile before hitting a tree. He was found dead in his car from blood loss.
Grooms’ family said he broke the window in an attempt to talk to a woman inside and resolve a relationship conflict.
Both Jones and Carpenter fled the scene.