MONROE, NC (WBTV) – A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 12-year-old Messiah Barrino, who was hit by gunfire outside his Skywatch Lane house on Saturday night.
Barrino, a beloved student at Monroe Middle School, died of his injuries on Monday, leaving a bereaved community and many unresolved concerns.
“Union County Public Schools wants to express its heartfelt condolences to the Barrino family. “The tragic death of Messiah has deeply saddened the staff, students, and administrators at Monroe Middle,” a representative for Union County Public Schools told WBTV. “When UCPS loses a kid, it has a significant impact on our schools and community. In times like this, it is critical that we provide additional support for people who are grieving.”
This week, the school will provide additional grief counselors to its students and staff.
Monroe Police say the incident happened Saturday evening during a huge altercation involving about 20 people.
Authorities suspect the incident was a pre-arranged encounter between two parties involved in an ongoing conflict. Barrino was not involved in the brawl and was shot as a bystander, according to reports.
A 15-year-old was also injured in the shooting and is currently recovering.
Investigation Update.
Monroe police have stated that additional arrests and charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Detectives are presently investigating witness accounts and security footage to identify all parties involved. Lt. Morgan Malone of the Monroe Police Department confirmed that the incident was not gang-related and that both adults and juveniles were present on the site.
“The investigation has led detectives to believe that it was a pre-arranged meeting of sorts between two groups of people who have an ongoing dispute with each other,” the lieutenant said.