On the evening of June 15, 2023, Gary Don Barnett (48) shot and killed his estranged wife Regina Ann Barnett (52) and her adult daughter Brittnee N. Perez (33) inside their home on Pine Street in Sequatchie, an unincorporated community in Marion County, Tennessee. Brittnee's three children — Vanessa Nicole Perez (11), Lilyana Perez (6), and Nicholas Perez (2) — also died, though authorities were initially unsure whether their deaths resulted from gunshot wounds or the fire that Gary set after the shooting before taking his own life. The family had recently moved into the home. Gary and Regina were in the midst of a divorce and had a documented history of domestic violence; Regina had obtained an order of protection after Gary assaulted her in February and had warned the court she feared he would 'get drunk and shoot me.' A seventh person, Aaron Pursley (Brittnee's fiancé), survived despite being shot three times and escaped to a neighbor's home.
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?
The Fox17 article 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." Firearms were central to the incident. While the children's specific cause of death is uncertain (gunshot wounds or fire), the incident was a firearm-involved murder-suicide.
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)
The Fox17 article states: "3 children also died, but the sheriff says they are unsure at this time if it was from gunshot wounds or the fire." Whether the children died from gunshot wounds or the deliberately set fire, both constitute inflicted injuries. Gary Don Barnett shot family members and set the house on fire, inflicting lethal harm.
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 articles explicitly describe the incident as a murder-suicide. The Tennessean article states: "what police called a murder-suicide in Marion County on June 15." The Fox17 article's headline references "Marion County murder-suicide" and details how Gary Don Barnett shot family members before taking his own life.
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)
The perpetrator, Gary Don Barnett, was married to Regina Barnett, who was the mother of Brittnee Perez (the children's mother). This makes Gary the stepfather of Brittnee and the step-grandfather of the children. The Fox17 article states: "police say Britnee's step father went on a shooting spree." As the step-grandfather, he qualifies as another adult relative (fitting the 'grandfather' example in the question).
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?
The Fox17 article explicitly references domestic violence: "An officer had been there in the past on domestic situations," "neighbors say Barnett and Regina had frequent fights," and "she obtained an order of protection after he assaulted her in February." Gary Don Barnett, a caregiver in the household, had a documented history of domestic violence against his estranged wife Regina.
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?
The Fox17 article states "An officer had been there in the past on domestic situations" and "That led her to obtain an order of protection after he assaulted her in February." The February assault predates the June 2023 fatal incident and constitutes prior criminal behavior. Police had responded to domestic situations at the home prior to the fatal event. While no specific arrests or formal charges are explicitly mentioned, the documented assault and repeated police involvement strongly imply prior criminal history.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Fox17 article reports that Regina feared Gary could "get drunk and shoot me," indicating alcohol use by Gary Don Barnett, who was a caregiver in the household where the children lived.
Notable Details
A critical systemic issue is apparent in this case. The Fox17 article reports that the victim, Regina Barnett, had obtained an order of protection against Gary Don Barnett after he assaulted her in February, and she explicitly warned the court that she feared he could "get drunk and shoot me" — which is precisely what occurred months later. Additionally, "an officer had been there in the past on domestic situations," indicating prior law enforcement awareness of the danger. Despite these documented warnings and legal protective measures, the violence escalated to a murder-suicide that killed six people including three children. The cause of death for the children specifically remains uncertain, as the sheriff stated: "3 children also died, but the sheriff says they are unsure at this time if it was from gunshot wounds or the fire." The perpetrator set the home ablaze after the shooting, and remains were transported to Nashville for autopsy.
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