Suspect charged with murder in shooting death of Candor UPS worker

A Candor man is dead, and another man is in custody following a standoff that started with a shooting outside of Walmart in Ithaca, N.Y. The incident happened in the early morning hours on Thursday, Dec. 8.

William Shumacher, age 52 of Candor, has been identified as the victim of the shooting, and police have arrested and charged 38-year-old Justin Barkley, of Dryden, with second-degree murder, a Class A Felony, in connection with the shooting.

At approximately 12:52 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, Ithaca Police Department officers responded to Walmart, located 135 Fairgrounds Memorial Parkway in Ithaca, regarding the report of a shooting outside in the parking lot. 

Upon arrival, according to police, William Schumacher, a resident of the Town of Candor and UPS employee, was located deceased in the parking lot. A male suspect fled the area prior to police arrival. 

A short time later, officers from the Cayuga Heights Police Department and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department observed a vehicle matching the description traveling northbound on Route 13. 

According to a release from the Ithaca Police Department, the officers merged behind the vehicle and attempted to stop it on Route 13 near the intersection of Route 366. The vehicle refused to stop and continued for approximately another 1/4 mile and pulled into a driveway. 

The suspect exited the vehicle with a long gun and shot at police officers as he fled towards the area believed to be his residence, according to police.

A perimeter was then established and officers proceeded methodically to secure the area and talk the suspect into surrendering peacefully. 

The affected area was cordoned off and the neighborhood was evacuated. Motorists and neighbors were directed to alternate areas. 

Police explained that a robot was inserted into the residence and was utilized to communicate with the suspect. At about 9:43 a.m. on Thursday, the suspect surrendered to police. 

Investigators have determined that the suspect and the victim did not know each other prior to this incident and they had not had any prior interactions with each other.

Barkley, a 38-year-old resident of the Town of Dryden, was arraigned on Thursday afternoon in Ithaca City Court in front of Judge Scott Miller; his attorney, Lance Salisbury, accompanied him. 

Barkley was remanded to the Tompkins County Jail without bail and is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 14 at 8:45 a.m.