San Angelo Woman Threatens to Kill Tracy Chapman Fan with Kitchen Knife

SAN ANGELO, TX— A San Angelo woman was arrested Thursday for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon for trying to stab a man who was listening to Tracy Chapman music.

A disturbance Thursday escalated into a violent confrontation, leading to the arrest of Julie Barnes, 42, on charges of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The incident, which occurred at the couple's residence on 1800 block of West Twohig Avenue, involved Barnes allegedly threatening the victim with a kitchen knife.
According to the affidavit, on December 7, 2023, San Angelo police responded to an altercation that began over a discussion about updating insurance information. The situation rapidly deteriorated when Barnes accused the victim of wanting to have sex with Tracy Chapman and became increasingly agitated.
The man, who was listening to Tracy Chapman music in a bedroom at the time, reported that Barnes threw various objects, including his tablet and cigarettes, and attempted to destroy insurance paperwork. The confrontation reached a critical point when Barnes left the room and returned with a 5- or 6-inch serrated kitchen knife, attempting to force entry into the bedroom, which the victim had barricaded himself in.
When officers arrived, they found the front door locked and had to communicate with the victim through a bedroom window. Barnes was apprehended shortly after, and the weapon used in the assault was seized as evidence.
In his statement, Charles Barnes expressed fear for his life, stating that during the incident, his wife threatened to kill both him and herself. He also mentioned that Barnes had experienced similar episodes in the past but had refused counseling or treatment.
Barnes, after being read her Miranda rights, admitted to the use of the knife in an attempt to gain entry into the bedroom. She expressed a desire not to be jailed and blamed her actions on the victim. She also disclosed that she had not been diagnosed with a mental disorder but had a history of ADHT and diabetes.
The affidavit concludes with the officer’s observation of fresh markings between the bedroom door and frame, consistent with the use of the knife. The incident is now under further investigation, with Barnes facing serious charges.

Barnes was arrested and booked into the Tom Green County Jail on an Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon charge. She was released on December 8, 2023, on $25,000 bond.