Sep 10, 2013 2 min read

A preliminary hearing has been set for 1 p.m. Monday in West Virginia for the suspect in the Sunday murder of a former Canton Township man, who had recently relocated to Weirton, W.Va.

The hearing will be held in Brooke County Magistrate Court for Adam M. Barnhart, 18, of Weirton, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 36-year-old Frank Tulock.

Court records indicate Tulock went about 3 a.m. to investigate a woman screaming for help near his residence, and upon his arrival, he heard Barnhart there “yelling racial slurs” while involved in a domestic dispute with a woman.

Tulock responded by shouting an obscenity and stating he has biracial children and didn’t tolerate racist comments.

Weirton police accused Barnhart of retrieving from his residence at 225 Hudson Ave. a .45-caliber handgun. Tulock noticed the weapon and turned around to walk back to his residence at 3733 Orchard St., when he was shot from behind as Barnhart allegedly fired at least eight rounds from his gun, the criminal complaint indicates.

Tulock made it back to his residence, where he collapsed and died on the same day his son turned 4 years old.

Barnhart fled on foot, disposing of his weapon, which police later found, the record shows.

Police found him hiding in weeds and thorny bushes after a neighbor called dispatch stating the suspect was crawling through her backyard.

When later questioned by police, Barnhart claimed he shot Tulock because he was beating Barnhart’s mother, the complaint shows.

However, police said, Tulock was not involved in the domestic dispute that initially brought them to the scene.

Barnhart is being held without bond in Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville.