Arrest Warrant Outlines Details of Windsor Locks Murder Case

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — An arrest warrant released late Wednesday afternoon outlines a scenario which led to the murder of a Hartford man at an Old County Road apartment complex Tuesday morning.

At 10:52 a.m., Windsor Locks police dispatchers received a 911 call stating someone had been shot at the apartment building at 131 Old County Road. Moments later, a second 911 call was received from Laurie Paine, who said, "My son's father just shot the guy I was talking to ... He's dead, shot him so many times."

Audio of the two 911 calls may be heard below.

In a statement to police, Paine said she was exiting the building with Leroy Jefferson, whom she was giving a ride. Her ex-boyfriend, Antwon Barnes, whom she dated for nine years and with whom she has an 8-year-old son, was entering the same stairwell and a verbal confrontation ensued, which Jefferson tried to avoid. The confrontation continued through the stairwell toward the parking lot, then Barnes shot Jefferson multiple times.

Barnes, 38, was officially charged Wednesday with murder, attempted murder and first-degree larceny. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bond.

Paine told police she and Barnes had ended their relationship about five months ago, with Barnes staying in apartment 161, which they had shared, while she moved into another unit in the complex. She said she began dating Jefferson about three months ago, and that he and Barnes had never met.

At the time of the confrontation, Barnes was carrying a bag and holding open a common door leading to the stairwell. Jefferson walked past Barnes, and Paine followed. She said she turned and looked at Barnes, and "he had a look on his face I had never seen before." When she said, "What Antwon, what?" he uttered an expletive, then pulled a gun out of his waistband and began shooting, according to the warrant.

After shooting Jefferson, Barnes grabbed Paine by her shirt, put the gun to her face and pulled the trigger; however, the weapon did not fire. She said he removed a second gun from the bag and shot Jefferson multiple times in the head, then grabbed her and said, 'You're coming with me, give me your keys,' according to the warrant.

Investigation revealed Barnes left the scene in a Nissan Pathfinder and drove to the nearby Roncari parking service lot near Bradley International Airport, where he works as a security guard. He parked the Pathfinder in a rear lot, stole a Ford Explorer and drove to Hartford, police said.

Jefferson, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene. A total of 42 spent 9mm pistol cartridge cases were located near his body, police said.

Paine went to the Windsor Locks Police Department, and while being questioned, she received a call from Barnes on her cell phone. She handed the phone to Officer Earl Baidy, who persuaded Barnes to surrender peacefully. Shortly thereafter, police were notified that Barnes had turned himself in at the Hartford Police Department, but when officers from Windsor Locks arrive there, they were informed Barnes had been taken to Hartford Hospital, claiming he was having trouble breathing, the warrant states.

After discharge from the hospital, Barnes was taken back to the Windsor Locks Police Department for questioning. He claimed he and Paine had spent the previous night together, and that the two "were trying to work things out." He said after his midnight work shift, he left at 7 a.m. and went to see his son before he left for school, according to the warrant.

Barnes told police he planned on going to the shooting range at Hoffman's Gun Club in Newington. He said he had a gun holstered on his hip, and had decided to go back into his apartment to fetch another one when he encountered Paine and Jefferson at the doorway, the warrant states.

In his written report, Officer Daniel Bontempo wrote, "He stated that if he just never went back to go to get the other gun that none of this would have happened."

Barnes owns 11 legally registered firearms, an investigation revealed.