CT security guard kills ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend-fired at least 42 times
WINDSOR LOCKS CT October 27 2019– A local man accused of shooting a man to death and then turning the gun on a woman is being held on $2 million bail after being arraigned on multiple charges at his bedside on Wednesday.
Antwon Barnes, 38, of 131 Old County Road, was arraigned at Hartford Hospital on charges of murder, criminal attempted murder and first-degree larceny, Windsor Locks Police Lt. Paul Cherniack said in a press release.
Barnes, who works as a security guard in Windsor Locks, is accused of shooting at his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Leroy Jefferson, 35, of Hartford, at least 42 times, hitting him in the head and torso multiple times. Jefferson died at the scene, Cherniak said.
Barnes and his ex-girlfriend had been together for about nine years and have an 8-year-old child together. About five months ago their relationship ended and she moved out of the apartment they were living in together, but moved to a new unit in the same building on Old County Road, according to an arrest warrant application.
The woman and Johnson were leaving the building when they ran into Barnes, who was coming in the back door. Barnes is accused of pulling out a gun and shooting Johnson multiple times, the application said.
Barmes and Jefferson had never met, the woman told police.
“Barnes also pointed a handgun at a female who was with the victim and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire,” Cherniak said.
Barnes then pulled out a second gun while holding onto the woman by her shirt. When she asked, “What about your son?” he let her go, the warrant said.
Barnes, who has a Connecticut pistol permit, told police he was heading to the shooting range when he ran into Johnson and his ex-girlfriend. He has at least 11 firearms registered to him, the warrant said.
When police asked him how many times he shot at Johnson, Barnes said he did not know but guessed that he fired six or seven times. A total of 42 spent 9 mm pistol cartridge casings consistent with a 9 mm Glock were found at the scene of the shooting. The gun was registered to Barnes, the warrant said.
Barnes reportedly fled in a Nissan Pathfinder after the shooting. While police started searching for him and the car, a Windsor Locks officer was able to contact Barnes by cellphone and persuaded him to surrender. Barnes, who had driven to Hartford, turned himself in at Hartford police headquarters.
After turning himself in, Barnes started having difficulty breathing. He was taken to Hartford Hospital by ambulance and admitted for treatment, the warrant said.
Windsor Locks police are investigating the homicide and coordinating with the prosecutor’s office to file criminal charges. The Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad assisted at the scene, Cherniak said.
