On November 21, 2023, Wichita Falls police responded to a welfare check at a residence on Rock Island Circle. Inside, they discovered 53-year-old Brian P. Barnwell deceased from a gunshot wound to the head, with a firearm found nearby.
The investigation led officers to another home on L B Drive, where they found 52-year-old Melanie L. Berry, Barnwell's ex-wife, also deceased from a gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities believe the incident was a murder-suicide, with Barnwell fatally shooting Berry before taking his own life. The Wichita Falls Police Department stated that the investigation is ongoing but indicated that there is no threat to the public.
The families of both individuals have been notified, and police have requested that the community keep them in their thoughts during this difficult time.
As of now, no further details have been released regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident. The Wichita Falls Police Department continues to investigate the case to provide a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired.
