Police investigate a fatal shooting at the Ithaca Walmart Thursday morning. Photo by Jolene Almendarez/Ithaca Voice
ITHACA, N.Y. — A man who fatally shot and ran over a UPS driver early Thursday morning in an Ithaca Walmart parking lot allegedly confessed the crime to police, court records show.
Justin R. Barkley, 38, is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the killing of William Schumacher, a 52-year-old-man from Candor, who police say did not know Barkley prior to the incident.
Barkley was taken into custody by police around 9:45 a.m. Thursday after firing one round at officers who attempted to pull him over after noticing that his vehicle matched the description of one used in the crime. He fled from officers for about a quarter of a mile and shot the round at them from his home on the 1200 block of Dryden Road. Police did not fire back at Barkley and no officers were injured.
The shootings sparked a nearly eight-hour standoff that ended with Barkley surrendering to police.
Court documents state that during an interview, "...the defendant stated that he had driven his vehicle to Walmart in the City of Ithaca, and shot a man in the chest with a .30-06 caliber rifle. Barkley also stated that he had intentionally driven over the body of the victim and spun his tires before subsequently being involved in a brief pursuit with police behind him. Barkley stated that he pulled his vehicle into the driveway of his residence, exited his vehicle, and fired a "sound shot" in an effort to prevent police officers from exiting their patrol vehicles."
Related: Suspect in custody after fatal shooting outside Ithaca Wal-Mart
Police said the confession happened during a recorded interview with Barkley.
Justin Barkley (Photo: Tompkins County Jail)
Two voluntary witness statements were also attached to the felony complaint.
One witness said he heard a "loud crack or pop" and witnessed a black pickup truck run over Schumacher.
The witness told police that he had been behind Schumacher in line at the Walmart before the incident.
"I remember making small talk with the guy about some oversized lighters that we saw near the register...The male appeared to be in a good mood and was joking and laughing with me. Nothing stuck out as odd to me about this person's demeanor at the time."
The witness stated that police arrived at the scene "right away."
Another witness also stated that they heard a loud sound while they were sitting in their car playing games on a cell phone. The witness told police that a black Chevy Silverado swerved in the parking lot before it bounced "as if it had hit something," and then leaving the area. The witness shortly afterward realized that the vehicle struck a man laying in the parking lot.
Barkley was arraigned at Ithaca City Court Thursday afternoon and is being held without bail at the Tompkins County Jail.
