Funeral set for Saturday for slain sheriff's deputy

SALEM, Mo. -- Funeral services will be Saturday for a sheriff's deputy killed by a murder suspect.

Services for Dent County chief deputy Sharon Joann Barnes will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Community Church in Salem. Burial will be at Concord Cemetery near Licking.

Barnes, 48, was shot Monday while investigating an earlier shooting that left two people dead. She died Tuesday.

The suspect in all three murders, Earl Mitchell Forrest II, faces arraignment Wednesday on three counts of first-degree murder and other charges. Forrest was also injured in a shootout with police and remained hospitalized at University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Authorities said Forrest killed Harriet Smith, 51, of Salem, and Michael Ray Wells, 41, of Licking. The shootings happened at Smith's home.

Smith was killed in a drug dispute, police said. Wells was apparently in the home returning a borrowed videotape to Smith.

Later, Barnes and Sheriff Bob Wofford went to Forrest's home to investigate the earlier shootings. Authorities said Forrest began shooting as the officers approached the door.

Wofford was also shot but not seriously hurt. Forrest's girlfriend was also injured in the shootout.