Man Shoots Horse, Then Later Teen Witness

Thursday, March 30th was the arraignment date for 22-year-old Lavarius Barber of Greenville, Mississippi who is charged with the attempted murder of the male teenager who was with him back in November of 2016 when Barber allegedly shot and killed a horse. Barber’s bond in the horse shooting case was $75,000 and for his arrest for attempted murder, it was $250,000.

It’s suspected that Barber shot the youth in late February of this year because the youth, once charged as his accomplice, turned witness when the youth’s charge in the horse shooting was dismissed.

In Defense of Animals' Justice for Animals Campaign is following this case and adding it to the list of the many acts of violence committed in Mississippi in recent times that should awaken legislators to the fact that cruel and violent people strike animal and human victims alike. Mississippi State animal cruelty statutes must reflect this fact.

Though Mississippi State Statute 97-41-15 “Maliciously injuring livestock” carries a one-five year sentence and a one to five year prison term, the harming or killing of other animals is a misdemeanor. Even though the Mississippi “Dog and Cat” statute has a felony section, a first offense charge is a misdemeanor. A second offense must be charged within five years of the first in order to become a felony. You can see how ridiculous and toothless these penalties are!

We do commend the judge for taking these crimes seriously in setting Barber’s bails, but wonder why Barber would even be given bail on the charge of shooting a witness, when this is his second shooting in less than a year.

On March 30th, Barber’s arraignment was continued. His attorney requested time for preparation and was granted it. We will be following and giving updates on this case.