WATCH LIVE: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — TRENDING NOW:
- Bundle up! Cold front moves into Central Florida
- Bodies discovered in home with note warning of hazardous chemicals
- Florida man accused of using license-plate cover to avoid tolls
- VIDEO: Action 9 investigates risky travel club
The Rev. Derrick McRae told Channel 9 on Wednesday that Barnes was a member of his church.
He said Barnes was the oldest of five siblings and had a 4-year-old son.
"She was screaming, 'My son. My son. They killed my son,'" McRae said of a conversation he had by phone with Barnes' mother. "(I) definitely want to see justice done. It's painful to the family. There's no need for retaliation."
McRae said he last spoke with Barnes at the Experience Christian Center on Sunday. He said Barnes encouraged his whole family to arrive at church early.
"I said, '(As a) matter of fact, I want to see you standing up in church so I can know it's you.' And he said, '(I'm going to) do that. (I'm going to) do that,'" McRae said. "Needless to say, we didn't know 24 hours later -- or less than 24 hours later -- he wouldn't be with us anymore."
He said Barnes' son is now staying with his grandparents.