Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Deputy Sheriff Joann Barnes was shot shortly after noon when she and the sheriff went to a home on County Road 231, west of Salem, to investigate a double murder that occurred earlier in the morning.
The suspect's girlfriend opened the door as the deputies approached the house. When Chief Deputy Barnes asked if the suspect was there, the man opened fire with a .22 caliber handgun and struck Chief Deputy Barnes in the head and torso. She was flown to St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, where she succumbed to her wounds at 3:51 am the following morning. The sheriff, the suspect, and another person in the house were also wounded in the ensuing shootout.
The suspect was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to three death sentences and subsequently executed on May 11th, 2016.
Chief Deputy Barnes had served with the Dent County Sheriff's Department for nine years. She was preceded in death by her husband, who was also a law enforcement officer.
Survivors
She is survived by many nieces and nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-3B092128- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Barnes gave the Dent County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Sheriff Barnes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Deputy Sheriff Sharon Joann Barnes is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sharon Joann Barnes's cause is highlighted.
How Sharon Joann Barnes Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sharon Joann Barnes is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sharon Joann Barnes was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.