On a tragic afternoon in Pelzer, South Carolina, the life of 43-year-old Michael Paul Barbare Sr. was cut short. On May 6, 2019, an altercation at a residence on Kings Country Lane in Greenville County escalated, ending with Barbare being fatally shot in the head. He was found in the driveway and pronounced dead at the scene. Barbare, born on May 19, 1975, in Greenville, was a man remembered for his love of the lake, boating, and fishing.
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office responded
to the incident and quickly identified a suspect. Dean Thomas Berry, a 48-year-old from Pelzer, was arrested in connection with the shooting. It was reported that Berry and Barbare were acquainted, though the specific motive behind the deadly confrontation remained unclear in the initial stages of the investigation. Following the incident, it was Berry himself who contacted 911 and admitted to the shooting.
Dean Thomas Berry was subsequently charged with the murder of Michael Paul Barbare Sr. and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. During a bond hearing, Barbare's stepsister expressed her profound grief, describing the act as senseless. The Greenville County Coroner's Office officially ruled Barbare's death a homicide, confirming he died from a single gunshot wound. Berry was denied bond and taken into custody as the legal process against him commenced. The community was left in shock, mourning the sudden and violent loss of a beloved son, father, and friend.
