Huntsville slaying suspect claimed he was being robbed of meth, cop testifies

The man charged in a fatal shooting at a Huntsville gas station claimed he was being robbed when his gun went off and killed 41-year-old James Edwin Jones, court testimony revealed.

But rather, police say, the suspect, Delvon Barnett, tried to rob Jones of about $450 before killing him during a methamphetamine deal.

Barnett, 29, is charged with capital murder in the March 26 fatal shooting. He’s held in the Madison County Jail without bail. During a court hearing this morning, Madison County District Judge Patrick Tuten said he will consider whether to set bail in the case and issue an order within a few days.

After hearing testimony from Huntsville police Investigator Michael DeNoon, Tuten ruled prosecutors have probable cause for the charge against Barnett. The case will next be presented to a grand jury for consideration of indictment, which is a formal notice of criminal charges.

On the night of the shooting, Jones and his wife met Barnett to buy meth at the Fuel City gas station on U.S. 72 in north Huntsville, according to testimony. Jones was to pay Barnett $450 for an ounce of meth, DeNoon testified. Instead, when Jones took out his money, Barnett pulled a gun and demanded the cash before the shooting, DeNoon told the judge.

In an interview with police, Barnett said he was the victim of an attempted robbery, according to testimony. DeNoon told the judge that Barnett claimed he got in the backseat of Jones’ vehicle and put the methamphetamine on a scale. Because the meth didn’t weigh an ounce, Jones slapped the drugs and the scale, knocking it to the front seat area, Barnett told police. That’s when Barnett said he pulled his gun and it went off during a struggle.

Jones was killed by a shot to the lower back, DeNoon testified. The murder weapon was a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, court records show.

After the shooting, Barnett ran from the scene, according to police. Jones crashed his vehicle about a block from the gas station, DeNoon testified.

Barnett and Jones knew each other from time they both spent in the Madison County jail during the past few years, police said. Jones was held on a charges of manufacturing a controlled substance and more, jail records show, while Barnett was charged with burglary and several other crimes.

Barnett, also known by the nickname “Seven,” was detained after police traced his phone number from calls with Jones, DeNoon testified.

Defense attorneys Robin Wolfe and Ron Smith asked Judge Tuten to set “reasonable bail” in the case. In court records, they wrote that Barnett was working before his arrest and has ties to the local community. Deputy District Attorney Randy Dill opposed the motion to set bail, saying Barnett is likely to face a life without parole sentence, if convicted.

Because Barnett was on probation for a burglary conviction when the slaying happened, prosecutors are asking Circuit Judge James Smith to revoke his probation in the burglary case. If the judge revokes the probation sentence, Barnett could be ordered to serve more than 13 years in prison. That prison sentence was suspended as part of a guilty plea in the burglary case. A hearing on the revocation is scheduled this afternoon.