Demarius Montrez Barnes was a 17-year-old student at Franklinton High School who was shot and killed on September 4, 2017, at a home on Marlless Drive in Franklin County. The shooting followed a confrontation between three men that escalated into gunfire; Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim, 28-year-old Montral Kearney, later died en route to the hospital.

Authorities said the altercation grew out of a past dispute involving the three men. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office named Charles Devante Perry-Pender, 23, as a person of interest; Perry-Pender later turned himself in and was charged with one count of murder. The sheriff’s office opened an investigation and Franklinton High School brought in additional counselors to support students grieving the loss.

Friends and family have said the shooting could have been avoided and urged peaceful conflict resolution. Did anyone in the community witness the confrontation or have information about the events leading up to that night?