In the late morning of November 18, 2019, a burst of violence shattered the peace of a Walmart parking lot in Duncan, Oklahoma, leaving three people dead in a tragic murder-suicide. Among the victims was Aubrey P. Perkins, a 39-year-old man who was fatally shot while sitting in a car.
Perkins and 31-year-old Rebecca N. Vescio Varela were together in a vehicle when they were ambushed by 43-year-old Wbiliado Varela Jr..
The shooter, who was the estranged husband of Rebecca Varela, approached their car and opened fire, killing both Perkins and his own wife before turning the gun on himself. The incident stemmed from a domestic dispute.
The brazen nature of the attack in a public space sent shockwaves through the Duncan community. At the time of his death, Perkins was remembered by loved ones as a family man and was actively involved in helping build a local church. The community mourned the senseless loss of life, with a memorial of flowers and candles growing in front of the store in the days that followed the shooting.
Law enforcement officials quickly identified Wbiliado Varela Jr. as the sole perpetrator of the killings, confirming that he died by suicide at the scene. As a result, there were no arrests to be made and no outstanding suspects in the deaths of Aubrey P. Perkins and Rebecca Vescio Varela. The investigation concluded that Varela acted alone in the targeted attack.
