On Wednesday, August 16th, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office received numerous 911 calls that an individual had been shot. Deputies and Investigators responded to the scene and found a young female with what appeared to be gun shot wounds. Richmond County EMS arrived on scene and began rendering aid and then transported the victim to VCU Tappahannock where she later succumbed to her injuries. The victim was later identified as 19 year old Kaylee Smith of Fredericksburg.
Through interviews and witness testimony to law enforcement and technological evidence, Investigators developed a suspect of 18 year old James Anthony Benjamin Barnes from Coles Point. Investigators obtained 2nd Degree Murder warrants on Barnes. Investigators determined that Barnes fled the Commonwealth. Investigators began making contact with jurisdictions outside of the Commonwealth. Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina called Investigators and said their deputies were currently in a pursuit with the suspected vehicle. After a lengthy pursuit the Deputies of Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office had Barnes in custody. The passenger was also detained in South Carolina.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office currently waiting for the extradition process to bring Barnes back to Richmond County.
