In the early morning hours of February 17, 2020, the body of 34-year-old Anthony James Pickle, a resident of Bristol, Tennessee, was discovered near a railroad trestle on Campground Road in Washington County, Virginia. An investigation by the authorities revealed a grim scene; Pickle had been shot multiple times in his back, chest, and head. The nature of the crime led investigators to describe it as a 'very heinous and very intentional' act.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on a
suspect: 27-year-old Angelo Aviles from Johnson City, Tennessee. A key piece of evidence that led to his identification was security footage from stores near the crime scene, which captured Aviles' car in the vicinity. With a violent criminal history originating from New Jersey, Aviles became the primary focus of the case. He was apprehended at an apartment in Bristol, Tennessee, by the local police department.
Following his arrest, Angelo Aviles was charged with first-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was initially detained by the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department as he awaited extradition to Washington County, Virginia, to face the charges brought against him. The case highlighted the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in bringing a suspect into custody. The body of Anthony James Pickle was sent to the Virginia Medical Examiner's office in Roanoke for an autopsy.
