COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus police say a husband shot and killed his wife before killing himself at their home on the city's southwest side Sunday afternoon.
Police identified the couple as 55-year-old James Barnes and 59-year-old Beverly Barnes.
The murder-suicide incident happened around 1:50 p.m. in the 1100 block of Parma Avenue, just off Briggs Road in the Brookshire neighborhood. Arriving officers found Beverly and James suffering from gunshot wounds in the home.
Medics pronounced Beverly dead at 2:07 p.m. after arriving on the scene.
James was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead at 2:56 p.m.
Police said there is no record of domestic violence between the couple.
“They were really nice people as far as we knew. I never heard of a problem until today. I didn’t hear nothing about this until today,” said neighbors Joe and Lisa Rieder.
The Rieders said they would talk with the victims when they were walking their dogs or doing yard work.
“They are really great people, I mean sweet, you would think they were best friends,” they said.
This is the 13th domestic violence homicide in the city this year, Albert said. He called it a “staggering” number and said officers are responding to domestic violence calls in the city nearly hourly.
“We urge community members to help us with this. Sadly we get called to the scene after domestic violence has occurred. If you are a loved one of somebody or friend of somebody who you see is going through a domestic or heated relationship and something doesn’t feel right with them, your friend has a husband that appears to be abusive, get help, it is not worth your life to stay in that relationship,” he said.
If you or someone you know needs help to get out of an abusive situation call the free National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or LSS CHOICES 24/7 hotline at 614-224-4663.
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