Your first look at Brendan Barnes, the 16-year-old accused in the murder of the Rev. David Strong, the prominent Chattanooga African Methodist Episcopal pastor who was brutally tortured and killed on October 4. Barnes will be charged as an adult, reports WRCB.
Barnes and his 26-year-old cousin Antonio Henry face first degree murder charges. In October, Henry said in jailhouse interviews that he and Barnes stabbed Strong after the pastor made unwanted sexual advances. Police detectives later contradicted that story in court, saying Henry told police that Strong sometimes paid him to perform sex acts.
Barnes appeared in court yesterday and his bond hearing was delayed until March 21, reports the Times Free Press.
Barnes and Henry "blamed each other during police interviews" taken hours after the pastor's body was found last October, according to court documents revealed at Barnes' transfer hearing.
"The child admitted he struck ... [the Rev.] David Strong multiple times during an attack in which Mr. Strong was also stabbed multiple times by Antonio Henry," according to a Hamilton County Juvenile Court affidavit written by Chattanooga police Detective Michael Wenger. But Henry, 25, "claims Mr. Barnes actually stabbed Mr. Strong," the affidavit states.
During the transfer hearing to determine whether Barnes was competent to stand trial in adult court, his attorney painted his client as an unwilling accomplice to his older cousin's mayhem. ... According to [police] testimony, Barnes told the detective that Henry held a knife to Barnes' throat until the teen began hitting an already-beaten Strong "some more times" with a blunt object to "prove myself." ... The issue of sex did not surface during Barnes' transfer hearing last week.
Henry and Barnes face charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault charges for stabbing the prominent pastor up to 29 times, taking ATM card and stealing his car. Both are being held without bond.
Relatives of the slain pastor say Strong, who was single and had no children, was not gay. Alcohol and marijuana's were found in the pastor's system during an autopsy.
Rev. David Strong had pastored the St. Paul AME Church for a decade and had a long history in Tennessee and Kentucky with the AME Church. The 2.5 million-member African Methodist Episcopal Church is the world's oldest and largest predominately Black denomination. The AME Church has opposed openly gay clergy, same sex unions, most gay rights initiatives and marriage equality.
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God help that young boy...he has prison "buddy" written all over him. He looks like a male Megan Goode. I'm scared for him.
Posted by: Aamir Swag | 22 February 2011 at 12:20
"God help that young boy ... I'm scared for him."
You queens are a mess.
"Henry and Barnes face charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault charges for stabbing the prominent pastor up to 29 times, taking ATM card and stealing his car."
How about some empathy for the man he beat, tied up and stabbed 29 times? You did read the post or any of the other articles? Or did you stop at his "male Megan Goode" face?
Trifling.
Posted by: Former COGIC | 22 February 2011 at 12:35
FAIL @ AAMIR
SMH
Posted by: Anderson | 22 February 2011 at 13:20
Sounds to me like the pastor was on the down low. The alcohol and marijuana don't help either.
But none of that is a reason why he should have been hurt or killed. It just shows that many of us are hurting on the inside.
And sadly typical the first comment called the murderer cute. That boy will probably slice you in a heartbeat for a few dollars.
Posted by: Q | 22 February 2011 at 13:39
I read the post in its entirety...I said a prayer for the victim and his family when I read the original report of the incident and my heart goes out to them. I believe this report is about those who commited the crime; and I feel a great amount of sadness when I hear that a young man has made a huge mistake that he will pay for for the rest of his life. I will say a prayer for those who don't have the same capacity.
Posted by: Aamir Swag | 22 February 2011 at 15:02
Aamir, driving through a red light could be a "mistake." Stabbing, torture, stealing a car, beating someone until they gave you their ATM pin code ... that's a mistake?
Sorry, but your only comments referenced his looks and the fact you were "scared for him". And if you even read the linked articles, you would see he will be segregated from adult prisoners. And by his own admission, he stabbed and beat someone, so I have no idea why you are "scared for him."
But nice to know you quietly and secretly prayed for the victim and his family BEFORE you made comments about the teen killers looks. ROFL @ "I'll say a prayer for" you too.
Posted by: Former COGIC | 22 February 2011 at 15:43
I spent time in Hamilton County Juvenile with Brendan Barnes
He is no "poor boy"
He is a manipulative murderer.
He has done alot more than what he has been charged with- just ask any guard at Juvie.
While i was there he put his waste all over the walls and ingested some. I couldn't make up something that sick.
From what Mr. Roddy at juvie mentioned he gave them alot of hell and is obviously seriously mentally ill.
Posted by: Dallas P | 19 March 2011 at 13:54