On June 15, 2023, Gary Don Barnett shot and killed multiple family members inside a home on Pine Street in Sequatchie, an unincorporated community in Marion County, Tennessee, before setting the house on fire and killing himself. Three children — Vanessa Nicole Perez (age 11), Lilyana Perez (age 6), and Nicholas Perez (age 2) — died in the incident, though authorities were initially unsure whether their deaths resulted from gunshot wounds or the fire. Also killed were Barnett's estranged wife Regina Ann Barnett and her adult daughter Brittnee Perez, the children's mother. Brittnee's fiancé Aaron Pursley survived after being shot three times and escaping to a neighbor's home. Barnett and Regina were in the midst of a divorce, and Regina had previously obtained an order of protection against him, specifically warning the court that he could 'get drunk and shoot me.'
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Both documents describe a shooting incident. Document 1 (fox17.com) states: "police say Brittnee's step father went on a shooting spree" and "Gary Don Barnett shot and killed his estranged wife Regina Patterson, adult daughter Brittnee Perez, Aaron Pursley, and himself inside of the home. 3 children also died, but the sheriff says they are unsure at this time if it was from gunshot wounds or the fire." Document 2 (tennessean.com) describes it as "what police called a murder-suicide" involving shootings.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Document 1 (fox17.com) states: "Sheriff Bo Burnette says the same night Gary Don Barnett shot and killed his estranged wife Regina Patterson, adult daughter Brittnee Perez, Aaron Pursley, and himself inside of the home. 3 children also died, but the sheriff says they are unsure at this time if it was from gunshot wounds or the fire." Gary Barnett intentionally shot family members and deliberately set the home on fire. Whether the children died from gunshot wounds or the intentionally set fire, the injuries were inflicted by the perpetrator.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Both documents explicitly describe this as a murder-suicide. Document 1 (fox17.com) headline reads "Marion County murder-suicide" and describes Gary Don Barnett shooting family members before "taking his own life." Document 2 (tennessean.com) states: "what police called a murder-suicide in Marion County on June 15."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Gary Don Barnett, the perpetrator, was the stepfather of Brittnee Perez (the children's mother) and estranged husband of Regina Ann Barnett (the children's maternal grandmother). Document 1 (fox17.com) states: "police say Brittnee's step father went on a shooting spree." This makes Gary the step-grandfather of the children — an adult relative who is not a parent, stepparent, or paramour of the child's parent. He is best classified as another adult relative involved in the death.
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 (fox17.com) explicitly references domestic violence: "An officer had been there in the past on domestic situations," "In the middle of a divorce, neighbors say Barnett and Regina had frequent fights," and "That led her to obtain an order of protection after he assaulted her in February." These describe a clear pattern of domestic violence by Gary Barnett.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 (fox17.com) states: "An officer had been there in the past on domestic situations" and that Regina obtained an order of protection "after he assaulted her in February." These references to prior law enforcement responses and a documented assault in February 2023 (months before the June 15 murder-suicide) indicate prior criminal behavior by Gary Barnett, though formal arrests or charges are not explicitly confirmed in the text.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 (fox17.com) states that Regina had obtained an order of protection and feared Gary could "get drunk and shoot me." The phrase "get drunk" implies a known pattern of alcohol use by Gary Barnett, who was a caregiver figure in the household as the children's step-grandfather.
Notable Details
Document 1 (fox17.com) reports that victim Regina had obtained an order of protection against Gary Barnett after he assaulted her in February, and she specifically warned the court that he could "get drunk and shoot me." This prediction came tragically true just months later when Barnett shot and killed multiple family members, including three children, and set the house on fire. Additionally, the text notes that "An officer had been there in the past on domestic situations," indicating repeated law enforcement contact prior to the fatal incident. These details suggest a significant failure of the protective order system and domestic violence intervention to prevent the escalation to mass homicide.
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