Suspect in Killing of 18-Year-Old Surrenders

Inside Michael Barnett’s room is an eerie self-portrait of Barnett standing over his own gravestone.

The 18-year-old art student, who died Monday from head injuries suffered in a brutal beating, had told family and friends that the self-portrait symbolized his philosophy on death: that he accepted its possibility but was looking forward to life.

On Thursday, a co-worker of Barnett’s, Joshua Sherman, 18, surrendered to Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives in Northridge. He was booked on suspicion of murder in Barnett’s death and was being held without bail at the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station, deputies said.

Barnett, who recently won a $300 scholarship from the Santa Clarita Artists Assn., was found unconscious in a church parking lot not far from his home Sunday morning.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office confirmed Thursday that Barnett died from blows to the head.

It was the third killing this year in the city of Santa Clarita, which was listed as one of the safest cities in America last year by the FBI.

Barnett’s death mystified those closest to him, who used such words as “meek” and “docile” to describe him. Many said Barnett, who was trying to teach himself Japanese, according to one friend, was the most nonviolent person they knew.

Detectives are not saying what the possible motive for the killing might be. But Regina Barnett, Michael’s mother, said Thursday that her son had a girlfriend and she believes Sherman was jealous of the relationship. All three attended the same church.

She said that in the weeks just prior to her son’s death, Sherman began leaving ominous phone messages for Michael.

“I asked him if Sherman was giving him any problems,” Barnett said. “He told me it was nothing for me to worry about.”

Sheriff’s homicide detectives would not comment on Regina Barnett’s allegations.

People who knew them both say there were few indications of any problems between Sherman and Barnett.

The two met at Six Flags Magic Mountain, where they both worked, according to Barnett’s girlfriend, Roxanne Roy. She said that she, Barnett, and Sherman also attended the same church, the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in Newhall.

“I don’t know how this happened,” Roy said Thursday night. “There was never any sign. I didn’t even know that they ever argued before.”

Roy had no comment when asked if Sherman had ever expressed affection for her.

Barnett’s friends and family, including his 81-year-old grandmother, Yolanda Pleau, built a shrine of flowers and cards Thursday on the spot in the church’s parking lot where Barnett was found.

He was remembered by friends as a talented artist who enjoyed drawing dark fantasy scenes. He won the artists award for drawings of ninjas and heroic swordsmen and had begun attending art classes at College of the Canyons in Valencia.

In his room, Barnett turned his closet into a small artist’s studio, decorated with drawings of gleaming-fanged vampires and futuristic warriors.

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Laurence Strauss, principal of William S. Hart High School, described Barnett, who graduated from the school last year, as well liked, and from a family active at the school.

His sisters, Marixa, 17, is a Hart cheerleader and Tessa, 16, competes on the school’s soccer and track teams. Robert Barnett, Michael’s father, is a volunteer coach for the boys and girls track and cross-country teams.

Regina Barnett said her son’s love of art began as a small boy.

“When he was small, one teacher used to get so mad at his pictures,” she said. “The other kids would draw typical turkeys or Santa Clauses. He would draw peg-legs on the turkeys or a cigarette dangling from Santa Claus’ lips. . . . He had a great sense of humor all of his life. This is what they’ve taken from the world.”

Barnett will be buried at noon Saturday at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Santa Clarita.