State police have identified a second suspect in the fatal shooting of a man who broke into a house in Fayette County last month.

Police said they have now obtained arrest warrants for Vincent Irving Jones, 24, of Charleston, W.Va., and Christian Tramaine Carpenter, 23, of Highland Park, Mich., charging them with criminal homicide in the shooting death of Trenton Grooms at an apartment in Menallen on May 24.

According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Jones and Mr. Carpenter entered a house in the Village of Searights apartment complex in the early morning hours of May 24. Mr. Grooms pulled up to the house about two hours later and broke into the two-story home through a bedroom window.

Police said he was confronted in the living room by Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Jones, who shot four rounds toward Mr. Grooms, striking him once in the leg. The two suspects grabbed Mr. Grooms as he attempted to run from the apartment and they punched him several times, according to the complaint.

Mr. Grooms was eventually able to get to his car and drive away. A few minutes later, he crashed his car about a half-mile away and police later found him dead inside.

Mr. Jones and Mr. Carpenter fled the scene. Police were searching for a gray 2015 Kia Optima with the license plate BLP1268. The vehicle was rented through Enterprise Rent-A- Car on May 23 in Charleston, W.Va.

Police said three adults and several children were inside the two apartments besides the suspects and were unharmed.

 

 

 

 

First Published: June 8, 2016, 1:36 p.m.