A man told police he “snapped” and fatally shot his girlfriend of 26 years in the head after she refused to sell their Florida home and pay him money he felt he was “entitled to,” according to court documents.
Alan Herbert Barber is charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend after he allegedly killed her during an argument, the Tampa Police Department said in a Monday, October 5, news release.
Barber, 74, called police on Saturday, October 3, and allegedly confessed to shooting his girlfriend, identified as Barbara Susdorf, 74, along Fowler Avenue in Tampa, according to an affidavit obtained by Us.
Officers who met with Barber found Susdorf had been shot in the head in the front passenger seat of Barber’s pickup truck, the affidavit states. She was ultimately declared dead.
Barber told police that he and Susdorf lived together in a home in her name and that their relationship “soured over the last two years,” adding that they frequently argued and “repeatedly expressed a mutual desire to break up,” according to the affidavit.
He explained to investigators that he wanted Susdorf to pay him $300,000 in compensation for the several payments he made toward their home, Barber said.
Barber said Susdorf “has refused to sell the house and pay him anything” and that he admitted to threatening to “blow her head off” if she didn’t pay him, the affidavit states.
He accused Susdorf of threatening to “blow his head off in response,” according to police.
Before their argument turned deadly on Saturday, Barber allegedly asked Susdorf for a dollar to include in their tip for a restaurant bill, the affidavit states.
After leaving the restaurant, they continued arguing about money inside Barber’s truck, according to police, where Barber handed Susdorf a holstered gun that was tucked in his waistband. He told police he gave it to Susdorf to put in her purse because he didn’t like to drive with the gun on him.
As they argued, “[Barber] again insisted that the victim sell the house and pay him $300,000,” the affidavit states.”[He] said that [Susdorf] called him an idiot and said that she wasn’t going to pay him a dime.”
Barber allegedly accused Susdorf of hitting him in the head with a cup before he threatened to shoot her, according to police.
In reply, Susdorf said “she had the gun, and would blow his head off” before taking the firearm out of her purse, the affidavit states.
Barber allegedly said he grabbed the gun, told Susdorf she didn’t know how to use it, and pointed it at her head.
When she tried to grab the weapon, Barber shot her, according to the affidavit.
Barber is represented by the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, which didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
On Thursday, October 6, the court granted prosecutors’ motion for his pretrial detention, records show.
“This man chose to end an argument by using a gun, and he will now face justice for his decision,” Acting Tampa Police Department Chief Brett Owen said in a statement.
