James Thomas “Jim” Barefoot has been charged with capital murder in connection with the death of his wife during a triple shooting last week in Panola County that also involved his sister.
Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby said Barefoot, 40, of 3 Sayle Lane, Charleston, was taken into custody Saturday shortly before the funeral of his wife, Jennifer Hargett Barefoot, 36, was to begin at a Charleston church.
Barefoot, who had just been released from a Memphis hospital where he underwent days of treatment for four gunshot wounds sustained in the Aug. 8 incident, was permitted to attend a brief visitation at the church prior to the funeral.
“It was his wife,” explained Darby. “He cooperated, and then we went ahead and took him in before the funeral.”
District Attorney John Champion said Tuesday that Barefoot is being held without bond at the Panola County Jail in Batesville pending a preliminary hearing that will be conducted in Panola County Justice Court within “a couple of weeks.”
Jim Barefoot’s sister, Vikki Barefoot Holland, 44, was shot once in the back during last week’s gunfire. Like her brother, she was airlifted to a Memphis hospital, where she was treated and then released early the next day.
The sheriff noted that the family members had been “arguing on Facebook,” and that an increasingly heated exchange of posts on the popular social media network may have precipitated last Monday’s showdown.
At about 3 p.m., Darby said, the Barefoot couple confronted Holland and her grown son, described by Champion as a person in his 20s, at their residence on the south side of Hentz Road, between Highway 51 and I-55 in the Pope community.
Officials have not stated publicly what they believe happened next, although Darby said “numerous shots were fired” and three handguns were later recovered by investigators.
Jennifer was shot to death at the scene. Holland’s son was uninjured.
The district attorney said the shootings occurred in the front porch area of an outbuilding behind Holland’s house.
“It is a very, very small crime scene,” Champion said.
Barefoot was charged with capital murder because, the DA explained, one legal definition for that crime under Mississippi law is a death resulting with or without intent while a person is engaged in the commission, or attempted commission, of another felony.
“In this case, kidnapping,” Champion said, then adding, “I can’t explain it right now, because I would be getting into the facts of the case. But the facts that were developed at the scene led us to the charge.”
Champion said he does not, “at this time,” anticipate any other arrests or charges in the case.
The DA said Holland has not been charged with any wrongdoing because of a Mississippi law that gives a person the right to use necessary force to protect himself or herself from an intruder.
“Mississippi has a Castle Doctrine, which means that you have the right to protect your home,” Champion said. “[Jim and Jennifer Barefoot] went to her home and, just based on the facts, under the Castle Doctrine we felt like no charges were warranted.”
Darby said the two gunshot survivors and Holland’s son were interviewed, and their stories mesh with the findings of the physical evidence.
“The statements that we got from everybody matched up with everything as far as who shot, what kind of weapons, where the bullets ended up and all of that,” he added. “The evidence looks real good compared with the statements.”
The sheriff noted that all parties’ social media posts that may have led to the shootings are being gathered.
“We’re researching and getting all the Facebook information,” Darby said. “That will be part of the case. It’s like writing on a piece of paper and handing it to somebody; it’s documentation even if you try to delete it. You can get a court order and get all of that stuff.”
Meanwhile, officials are investigating the cause of a fire Monday, Aug. 15, that destroyed Holland’s home. The outbuilding where the shootings occurred was not damaged by the fire.
The house fire was reported about 6 a.m. Monday by a passerby. An official said no one was at the residence at the time.
Although acknowledging that the fire seems suspicious under the circumstances, Darby said all early indications are that it may have been electrical in nature.
He noted that the structure had been undergoing repairs for electrical problems that were caused by a recent lightning strike.
In fact, Darby added, Holland and her son had been living in the outbuilding behind the residence due to the ongoing work to the main house.
Still, Darby said the State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and is involved with the fire investigation.
PHOTO: Jim Barefoot
