FAIRMONT — A 19-year-old Fairmont State University student was charged Monday with murder for “deliberately” running over a man early Saturday morning in the 900 block of Fairmont Avenue, police said.
Robert James Winning of Montrose in Randolph County was first charged with attempted murder in the death of Christopher Williams.
When Williams, 28, of Pittsburgh, died in a hospital shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, city police detectives charged Winning with murder, Fairmont Police Chief Mark Hayes said.
The two men had an argument in Winning’s car just before Winning ran down Williams, according to a police criminal complaint filed Monday in Marion County Magistrate Court.
“Williams was a passenger in Winning’s vehicle during the verbal altercation,” between the men, the complaint states. Winning was driving a Ford Focus.
Winning then stopped in a parking lot in the 900 block of Fairmont Avenue.
“Williams exited the vehicle and began walking north on the sidewalk. Winning accelerated his vehicle, running over the curb stops, driving on the sidewalk and striking Williams,” the complaint states.
The hit-and-run attack happened about 5:02 a.m. Saturday, Chief Hayes said in a press release Monday.
Williams “was rushed by the Marion County Rescue Squad to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown,” the chief said.
Winning was arraigned in a videoconference on the murder charge Monday by Marion Chief Magistrate Hank Middlemas.
Middlemas did not set a bond. He told Winning that only a circuit judge can grant or set bail in a felony charge that carries a sentence of life imprisonment like murder.
Winning applied for a court-appointed lawyer and also asked for a preliminary hearing in 10 days.
A Fairmont State University spokeswoman said Winning is enrolled at the school.
E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com.
Local News
Victim in hit-and-run incident dies
FSU student faces charges
- Local News
-
-
Teaching on their level
“I would like to nominate Lois Thibodeau for ‘My Favorite Teacher.’ She is the special needs Pre-K teacher at Watson Elementary School.” This was Kristi Wolford singing the praises of Lois Thibodeau.
-
DHHR requiring additional vaccines for students
Seventh- and 12th-graders who return to class in the fall without certain immunizations will not be allowed to attend school unless they get the required inoculations.
-
Cost of crime
Victim.
You never thought this would be you.
But you are the victim of a nonviolent or violent crime.
After contacting the proper authorities, you may be bewildered as to what happens next. -
More streets to be paved this week
Even more city streets will be paved this week than expected.
City Manager Jay Rogers said the spring paving required fewer tons of asphalt to cover the distance than originally estimated. That means there’s asphalt to spare and more streets are getting paved this spring. -
Bertoletti has 33 pepperoni rolls in only 10 minutes to win
If there’s one Memorial Day tradition that everybody participates in, one way or another, it’s eating.
Maybe it’s at a picnic at one of the many venues scattered across Marion County, enjoying hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad and other seasonal food. -
Assaults, physical or not, affect ‘sense of safety and trust’
An assault of any kind — whether it’s physical or not — can be traumatizing.
“You don’t need to have suffered any cuts or scratches,” said Dr. Ronald Pearse, “but any kind of assault affects your sense of safety and trust.” -
Reasoning Mind excites students
As a teacher, Beverly Stewart has never been more thrilled than when she sees the benefits a newer program has done for her students.
Pleasant Valley Elementary fifth-grade student Calista Muzzapelle worked diligently on her assignments last week, much like she had during her Christmas break. -
Pepperoni roll prize
To someone from out of state, the pepperoni roll might seem like a mystery.
“Is it like a calzone?” they might ask, “or a stromboli?”
Unique to the state of West Virginia, the pepperoni roll represents the Italian heritage of many of the miners in the early 20th century mixed with hardworking Mountaineer common sense. -
BOE seeks land for new middle schools
The Marion County Board of Education is looking at land to build new middle schools in Mannington and Monongah.
If all goes as planned, county voters will see a bond on the November ballot. -
Former WVU coach takes final journey home
Bill Stewart has made his way back home.
The former West Virginia University football coach, who died suddenly earlier this week of a heart attack at 59, was laid to rest Friday in his hometown of New Martinsville. - More Local News Headlines
-
