In the quiet, early morning hours of October 8, 2020, a sense of unease settled over Maplewick Lane in Willingboro, New Jersey. Neighbors were roused by the sound of a single gunshot, a stark interruption of the night's calm. When police arrived at the home of 28-year-old Barry Barino, they found him just outside his back door, the victim of a fatal shooting. An autopsy would later confirm he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
He was a male, and no information on his ethnicity was made available.
The investigation into Barino's death quickly focused on an acquaintance, Kwacey Q. Owens. It was discovered that Owens had been inside Barino's home moments before the shooting. Investigators believe that for reasons that remain unclear, Owens lured Barino outside, where the deadly encounter took place. The motive behind this act remains a lingering question, a void in the narrative of that tragic night.
The search for justice was swift. Within weeks, Kwacey Owens was apprehended. A search of his residence uncovered a. 45 caliber pistol, believed to be the weapon used in the commission of the crime. Owens, a resident of Willingboro, was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
After his indictment, Owens remained in the Burlington County Jail, the legal process slowly unfolding. In September 2023, a jury found him guilty on all counts after a trial. For the murder of Barry Barino, Kwacey Q. Owens was sentenced to 30 years in state prison, a punishment that ensures he will serve the entirety of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
