Charleston police say a 23-year-old man killed another man Sunday afternoon over a heroin theft.
Tremaine Jackson, of Charleston, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Brian Rogers, 29, of the Ripley area.
Jackson told police that Rogers had stolen about $3,000 worth of heroin from him several weeks earlier, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Jackson allegedly confronted Rogers Sunday afternoon in an alley near the intersection of Rebecca Street and 7th Avenue. During the altercation, Jackson allegedly drew a .380-caliber handgun and shot Rogers one time in the stomach.
After he was shot, Rogers went at about 3 p.m. into the West Side Market & Deli, in the 1700 block of Seventh Avenue, and subsequently collapsed, according to Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives for the Charleston Police Department.
Rogers immediately was taken to CAMC General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Jackson was arrested late Monday on a domestic violence-related charge.
An eyewitness had tipped police off that Jackson was the shooter, so police questioned him about the slaying during the interview.
Jackson then admitted to shooting and killing Rogers, Cooper said.
Jackson told police that Rogers had stolen the heroin when the two met at the transit mall.
Cooper said that, based on the amount of heroin in Jackson's possession, police believe he is a dealer. They think Rogers was only a user.
The domestic violence incident was unrelated to the shooting, Cooper said.
Jackson was arraigned by video on the murder charge Tuesday morning.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.