CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County man accused of shooting and killing an unarmed teenager last November was indicted Tuesday on federal gun charges.
William Pulliam, 62, of Charleston, was not legally allowed to possess the firearm he used to shoot 15-year-old James Means because of a 2013 domestic violence conviction.
Pulliam shot Means twice using a .380-caliber revolver. The incident happened in Charleston’s East End in the 1500 block of Washington Street East. Means was not possessing a firearm.
Pulliam has been in South Central Regional Jail since November.
In 2013, Pulliam was charged with domestic violence after allegedly hitting his pregnant daughter in the face and kicking her in the stomach. He also shoved his wife to the ground.
In July 2016, Pulliam purchased the gun at a Gander Mountain. Federal prosecutors said Pulliam made a false statement on a federal form by saying he had never been convicted of domestic violence.
The indictment said Pulliam was aware he was making false statements, and also charges him with two counts of unlawfully transporting the firearm last August.
If convicted on this indictment, Pulliam faces up to 10 years in prison.