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Grand jury indicts former Massena Wellness Center director for murder

Posted 12/19/16

Justin Barkley, 38, is under indictment for second-degree murder and menacing a police officer, according to documents obtained from Tompkins County Court. He was scheduled for an arraignment on the …

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Grand jury indicts former Massena Wellness Center director for murder

Posted

Justin Barkley, 38, is under indictment for second-degree murder and menacing a police officer, according to documents obtained from Tompkins County Court.

He was scheduled for an arraignment on the indictment at 1:45 p.m. today. Tompkins County Court officials said that information was not immediately available.

Barkley is accused of killing William Schumacher, a seasonal UPS driver, in the Ithaca Walmart parking lot on Dec. 8. The Ithaca Journal reports that he shot Schumacher with a .30-.06 hunting rifle, then ran him over with his car.

The menacing a police officer count stems from Barkley allegedly firing a “sound shot” at police to stop them from coming after him once he pulled into the driveway of his Dryden home. Barkley was taken into custody following an eight-hour standoff, the Ithaca Journal reported.

The pulication reported that Barkley confessed to the killing in a recorded interview, but no motive has been established.

The New York State Office of Mental Health said Barkley had resigned his position in Massena prior to the murder.

“Justin Barkley was not employed by the state of New York at the time of this incident. This former employee was a licensed master social worker from September 2008 until May 2016 at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, where his final position was program director of the Massena Wellness Center,” according to Ben Rosen, OMH Public Information Office director. “In May 2016, he voluntarily left St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center for a position with the Office of Children and Family Services.”

He began working at The Office of Children and Family Services’ Finger Lakes Residential Center on May 4 and resigned effective Aug. 8, said Monica Mahaffey, New York State Office of Children & Family Services assistant commissioner for communications.

Barkley is being held at the Tompkins County jail without bail.