Dale A. Mincey, 41, Barnes' nephew, was formally charged with first-degree murder Saturday in connection with Barnes' death. Mincey remains in custody at the St.
Lucie County Jail and is being held without bond. The fatal shooting happened July 7 at a residence on the 2700 block of Essex Drive. Deputies responded to the home at around 3:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a person with a gunshot wound.
When deputies arrived, they learned a man had shot another man with a rifle. Barnes was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Deputies said the fatal shooting was premeditated.
Karen Moye, the victim's sister and mother of the suspect, was also at the home when the shooting occurred. She heard a loud bang while she was in the bathroom and came out to find Mincey and called police. Sheriff Richard Del Toro said Tuesday that detectives uncovered information indicating that Moye knowingly provided false information to investigators and withheld pertinent information related to this homicide investigation.
She has been charged with false report to law enforcement and the commission of a capital felony. During questioning, Mincey told detectives he could not recall what happened the day of the shooting and that he didn't have any issues with Barnes and did not know how Barnes died. However, he admitted to owning two firearms.
Barnes worked as an art teacher for the St. Lucie County School District since 2017, serving at West Gate K-8 and Samuel S. Gaines Academy.