On the morning of December 28, 2022, the Crestview Police Department responded to a call reporting a shooting at a residence on Nun Drive in Crestview, Florida. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of 31-year-old Rictaysha Barnum inside the home. She had sustained two gunshot wounds to the lower rib cage area. A gun was found lying between her legs with the slide locked to the rear, and there was blood spatter on the bottom bunk's mattress and pillow, as well as a bullet hole through the
TV. The top bunk's mattress had blood-soaked sheets, but there was no blood pooling underneath her body.
Rictaysha's husband, 30-year-old Camden Tyre Barnum, was present at the scene and was immediately detained by the police. He was later transported to the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with murder. According to the arrest report, Camden Barnum admitted to the police that he and his wife had been arguing throughout the night. He stated that he had tried to remove himself from the argument by going to different rooms, but Rictaysha followed him and continued the confrontation. The details of Camden's full statement to the police remain redacted in the arrest report.
The Crestview Police Department, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic incident. The case appears to be related to domestic violence within the home. Camden Barnum appeared in Okaloosa County court shortly after his arrest, where a judge denied him bond. The investigation is still active, and further details may emerge as the case progresses through the legal system.
