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SANTA CLARA, Washington County — A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the shooting death of his mother in southern Utah.
The boy was charged Wednesday in 5th District Juvenile Court with murder and five counts of shooting a gun and causing injury, first-degree felonies; and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.
About 11 p.m. on Jan. 30, Santa Clara-Ivins police officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of Santa Clara View Drive and Circle Drive. "Upon arrival, officers made contact with individuals at a residence where they discovered one person had been shot and was pronounced deceased at the scene," police said.
Police later announced that Heather Ann Barela, 44, had been shot and killed inside her home. Brandon Alfred Barela, 20, was also shot and sustained injuries not considered to be life-threatening.
Investigators announced at the time that a "minor" had been arrested but did not release any additional information. According to family members, Heather Barela has two biological children and adopted five more.
"Heather and Chris have the biggest hearts and began fostering boys," states a GoFundMe campaign* set up to help her husband with funeral costs and to support their children. "They took the difficult cases, and most of the boys they fostered became their adopted sons. Heather loved her children fiercely; she was involved in homeschooling them, teaching them karate, and ensuring they had the best manners. Her sons have grown to be kind, well-mannered boys. She and Chris had such big hearts that aside from her two biological children, Ryan and Brandon, they adopted five more children."
Her sister described Barela as "such a lovely person; she was kind and generous and always willing to help others and lift others with her positive spirit and her bubbly personality! She was a loyal friend, an amazing mother, and had the biggest heart for her children."
The GoFundMe also states, "Heather's life was snuffed out too soon and in such a terrible way. But her light expands and surrounds all of us. She will be dearly and heartbrokenly missed. But her example of love, positivity, and kindness will live on in all of our hearts and memories."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
