In the quiet town of Ozark, Missouri, the life of 52-year-old Kenneth 'Kenny' Edward Barnes, a White/Caucasian male, came to a sudden and violent end on May 19, 2021. Barnes, a dedicated Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Medical Dispatcher for Mercy Hospital for 25 years, was known for his engaging personality and his gift for putting others at ease.
A devoted family man, he was a loving husband, father to three daughters, and a doting grandfather.
The tranquility of that spring day was shattered when authorities responded to a call at Barnes's home. There, they discovered his body outside the residence. The investigation quickly led to an arrest, and the suspect was someone close to Barnes: his 88-year-old roommate, Larry Shaw. Shaw and Barnes had been living together for several years, but their relationship had reportedly soured. Shaw admitted to investigators that he had grown tired of Barnes's vulgar language and the way he was treated.
The catalyst for the tragic event was a seemingly innocuous request for Shaw to do some chores. This seemingly simple demand allegedly pushed Shaw over the edge. According to court documents, Shaw retrieved a handgun and waited in a recliner for three hours before shooting Barnes once in the chest when he approached. Following the shooting, Shaw expressed no remorse, reportedly telling police that he was 'kind of tickled' by what had happened and that he wanted to urinate on Barnes's grave.
Larry Shaw was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was subsequently held in the Christian County Jail without bond as he awaited legal proceedings. The shocking nature of the crime, particularly given the age of the suspect and the seemingly trivial motive, left the community of Ozark in disbelief and mourning the loss of a man who had dedicated his life to serving others.
