In the early morning hours of December 8, 2016, a well-liked UPS driver, William Schumacher, a 52-year-old male from Candor, New York, tragically lost his life in what authorities have described as a senseless act of violence. Schumacher, a seasonal employee with the delivery company, had taken a brief pause from his overnight shift to get something to eat at a 24-hour Walmart in Ithaca, New York. It was in the parking lot of this store, at approximately 12:50 a.m., that his life was abruptly cut short.
Without any known prior interaction or motive, a man later identified as 38-year-old Justin Barkley of Dryden, New York, fatally shot Schumacher. After the shooting, Barkley proceeded to run over Schumacher's body with his vehicle before fleeing the scene. The brutal and unexpected nature of the attack left the local community in shock and mourning for a man described as a beloved father, grandfather, and friend.
Responding Ithaca police officers quickly spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one that fled the scene. A pursuit ensued, which ended at a residence in Dryden, believed to be Barkley's home. Upon exiting his vehicle, Barkley fired a shot at the officers, who were not injured, before barricading himself inside the house. This initiated an hours-long standoff with law enforcement, including a SWAT team and police negotiators. After approximately nine hours, Barkley surrendered to authorities.
Justin Barkley was taken into custody and subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of William Schumacher. He was sent to jail without bail. Court documents later revealed that Barkley confessed to the shooting.
