Roll of Honor
Ray Lynn Barnes
Incident
Wildlife Officer Ray Barnes was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a person illegally hunting deer along the Shoal River near the Okaloosa County-Walton County line. The suspect managed to gain control of the officer's handgun and shot him. The suspect was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years. He was paroled on October 31st, 2004. On December 20th, 2007, he was returned to the Florida Penitentiary to serve a term of 35 years after his third conviction for DUI, resisting and eluding officers, and driving with a revoked license.
Survivors
Officer Barnes was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-AE0CBCCA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ray. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Wildlife Officer Barnes served with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Wildlife Officer Barnes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Wildlife Officer Ray Lynn Barnes is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Lynn Barnes's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Lynn Barnes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Lynn Barnes is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Lynn Barnes was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission are honored on badge.nw.
