West Virginia man pleads guilty in shooting death of former Delmont man

A West Virginia man pleaded guilty this week in connection with the fatal shooting of a former Delmont man, according to the Herald-Mail.

Alvin Deshaun Gilbert, 27, of Berkley County, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday in West Virginia. He admitted during a hearing in circuit court to killing Corey S. Barkhamer, 26, on Feb. 3 at a Martinsburg home, the newspaper reported.

Gilbert faces up to 30 years in prison under a plea agreement. He will be sentenced Jan. 6 on the murder charge and unrelated robbery charges.

The newspaper reports Gilbert told a judge that the shooting was in self defense after Barkhamer pulled a gun during an argument about a drug deal. He waived his right to argue self defense at trial.

Barkhamer was found with two gunshot wounds to the chest inside the home and later died at a hospital. Investigators testified during an April hearing that they learned of an apparent drug deal between the two men through a cell phone found at the scene, according to newspaper accounts.

According to his obituary, Barkhamer served in the U.S. Army between 2011-14 before being medically discharged. A memorial service was held in Jeannette.