ITHACA, N.Y. — Justin R. Barkley was indicted late Thursday for the homicide of a Candor UPS driver and for shooting at police officers when they tried to take him into custody, court records show.
Barkley, 38, was indicted on felonies for second-degree murder and menacing a police officer or peace officer.
He’s accused of killing William E. Schumacher, 52, of Candor, in a Wal-Mart parking lot in the early morning hours of Dec. 8. Police said Barkley shot the man and then ran him over.
Police have repeatedly said that after interviews with the men’s family and friends, it appears that the shooting was a random crime.
The latter charge is for firing a “sound shot” at police officers in the driveway of his home on the 1200 block of Dryden Road, where police pursed him after he failed to pull over. Barkley allegedly admitted to shooting at the two officers — from Cayuga Heights and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office — to stop them from getting out of their vehicles.
Barkley is scheduled to be arraigned at the Tompkins County Court Monday afternoon.