SCARBRO, W.Va. — The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people Thursday morning in connection to a shooting incident last week near Scarbro described as a “drug deal gone bad.”
Additionally, deputies notified Child Protective Services after police learned the Fayette County couple had “a young child” present at the alleged drug deal.
James Layton Wriston, 38, of Scarbro, faces charges of gross child neglect creating the risk of injury, wanton endangerment with a firearm, malicious wounding, and shooting across a road or alley.
Monique Wriston, 37, also of Scarbro, faces one charge of gross child neglect creating risk of injury.
The Sheriff’s Department began investigating an alleged shooting of a 40-year-old woman from the Oak Hill area on Thursday, December 15.
“The couple allegedly not only took their minor child along with them during this drug deal, but then further endangered this child when they robbed or attempted to rob the victim and then shot her,” Sheriff-Elect Mike Fridley said in a media release Thursday morning.
The victim has since been treated and released from an area hospital.
According to police, the Wriston’s and their child fled sometime after the alleged shooting.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office did not specify what type of drugs were involved in the alleged deal, but believe the Wriston’s attempted to rob the victim.