Nathan Barnwell, 46, faces up to 25 years in prison
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arraignment today of Baldwin man on a four-count indictment for the shooting death of his 39-year old business partner.
Nathan Barnwell, 46, was arraigned on the following grand jury charges:
• Manslaughter in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony)
• Two Counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree (a C felony)• Tampering with Physical Evidence (an E felony)
If convicted of the top charge, Barnwell faces up to 25 years in prison. Acting Supreme Court Justice William O’Brien set bail at $600,000 bond or $300,000 cash. He is due in court on December 9.
“The defendant and the victim had a working relationship, but that turned sour and the defendant allegedly shot him outside a Baldwin home,” Acting DA Singas said. “Because of the alleged actions of Nathan Barnwell, the victim’s children will now grow up without a father.”
Acting DA Singas said that on September 5 at 12: 50 a.m., the defendant was arguing with the 39-year old victim at a Woodoak Drive home in Baldwin, when he fired a single gunshot at the victim in the upper leg. The victim suffered from extensive bleeding and was pronounced dead at 5:25 a.m. at a nearby hospital.
Barnwell and the victim had numerous business dealings together involving cars and real estate. The pair had stopped talking several months before the incident and inadvertently crossed paths on the night of September 4 at a nearby restaurant. The victim later went to the defendant’s home to talk about a business transaction. Barnwell was arrested on September 7 by the Nassau County Police Department Homicide Squad.
The deceased, of Stroudsburg, Pa., was a father of three and buried on what would have been his 40th birthday.
Assistant District Attorney Veronica Guariglia of Acting DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting the case. Barnwell is represented by John Scarpa, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.