WELCH, W.Va. — A McDowell County jury convicted a local man of two counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a shooting in McDowell County in 2022.
The jury found Jhamel Scott Jr, 24, of Welch guilty of the lesser charge after three hours of deliberation. Scott shot and killed his girlfriend Summer Robinette, 20, at the home they shared in Welch on April 8, 2022. The shooting also claimed the life of Robinette’s unborn child. She was 23 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Originally Scott was charged with two counts of first degree murder. However he claimed during his trial he slipped while getting his gun, a .357-caliber revolver, from a gun safe in his bedroom closet. The slip caused the gun to discharge accidentally and struck Robinette who was sitting nearby on the bed.
Involuntary manslaughter is a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of a year in prison. He could face two years behind bars if the judge gave him the maximum and required the two sentences be served consecutively.
Circuit Judge Edward Kornish remanded Scott to jail pending his sentencing later this month.