On a tragic Thursday afternoon in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the life of 20-year-old Tyriek Davon Powell was cut short. On June 3, 2021, Powell was fatally wounded in a shooting that took place in the 3300 block of Fall Hill Avenue. The incident unfolded near a local barbershop and grocery store, where gunfire erupted, shattering the ordinary afternoon. When police responded to a 911 call reporting that a man had shot two people, they found a chaotic scene. Powell was transported to Mary Washington Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In the immediate aftermath, another individual involved in the altercation, who had also sustained gunshot wounds, took himself to the hospital. That man was later identified by authorities as 28-year-old Arturo Barnes of Fredericksburg. The subsequent investigation by the Fredericksburg Police Department revealed that Powell and Barnes had exchanged gunfire.
Following the investigation, authorities arrested Barnes in connection with the fatal shooting.
Arturo Barnes was charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, shooting a firearm in a public place, two counts of shooting into an occupied building, two counts of destruction of property, and one count of reckless handling of a firearm. Following his arrest, Barnes was held without bond.
Tyriek Powell, known as 'Riek' to his loved ones, was a young man with aspirations of attending college for game design. He was described as a vibrant and protective individual who deeply loved his family. His passing left a void in the lives of his mother, siblings, and many relatives and friends who remembered him as a respectful and talented young man.
