James Antonio Barnes

Serial Killer

James Antonio Barnes: The Memphis Serial Killer

Overview

James Antonio Barnes was an American serial killer responsible for a series of shootings in Memphis, Tennessee, during the late summer and fall of 1988. Barnes attacked at least five people associated with sex work, killing three and seriously wounding two others. The attacks occurred in different parts of Memphis but shared important similarities: the victims were picked up from street locations, transported in Barnes's gray Hyundai, taken to relatively isolated areas, and shot with a .32-caliber semiautomatic pistol. The killings alarmed Memphis investigators because they appeared to involve a single offender repeatedly targeting similar victims and then allowing time to pass between attacks. By November 1988, police publicly described the crimes as serial murders. Barnes eventually confessed to the three homicides and the two nonfatal shootings. Investigators also examined whether he might have been responsible for four additional killings in Memphis and Detroit, although he was never convicted of those crimes.

Early Life and Criminal History

James Antonio Barnes was born on April 27, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. Accounts of his background describe a highly troubled childhood and a long history of psychological and behavioral difficulties. Barnes later claimed that he had been abused by his parents and described unusual and severe punishments during his childhood. As an adult, he received treatment at institutions in several states for problems that reportedly included depression, hallucinations and substance abuse. Barnes also developed a criminal record before the Memphis murders. His earlier offenses included a bank robbery in Detroit. After serving prison time, he reportedly worked for General Motors before losing his job. He eventually moved to Memphis and lived in the Parkway Village area. ...

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Sharon Denise Moore Age: (25), Date of Death: August 18, 1988

Survivors:

Tony Lee Thompson Age: (23), Date of Attack: October 25, 1988

Eric Lewis , Date of Attack: November 5, 1988

James Antonio Barnes - Wikipedia