A West Virginia teen accused of fatally shooting a woman at a Charleston gas station nearly a year ago appeared in court Tuesday for motions that could see further delay in his trial.
Jacob Fields, 19, told police he was sitting in his car at a gas station pump on May 27, 2025, wiping down his gun when it “accidentally” went off, striking and killing 42-year-old Tiffany Clerenia Adkins, WOWK reported.
Adkins was struck in the head. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Fields was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Police, however, reviewed surveillance footage that showed he “looked toward her, waited for her to enter his field of fire and raised his Glock Model 20 Gen 5 10mm pistol with both hands, pointing it directly at Ms. Adkins” before firing through his front windshield, according to the complaint, WCHS reported.
Adkins and Fields were strangers.
Prosecutors amended the charges to first degree murder, and he was indicted on that charge, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and wanton endangerment in September. He pleaded not guilty the following month.
On Tuesday, a judge granted a motion by one of the teen’s attorneys to withdraw from the case. Because of the switch, his next court appearance, which was scheduled for Monday, has been delayed until March. Prosecutors still hope to bring the case to trial in April.
Fields remains in jail without bond.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Jacob Fields/West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Tiffany Adkins/family photo]
