Trial set for 2 men in murder of black man

Barry Ware (left) and Frankie Barber (right) have been charged in the murder of a black man from Attala County, Cedric Sharkey. Ware and Barber are scheduled to stand trial on March 28. The FBI is also investigating to determine if Sharkey's murder was a hate crime.

By Monica Land

KOSCIUSKO – Two white man charged with killing a black man in Attala County are scheduled to appear in court on March 28.

Frankie Barber, 52, and Barry Ware, 42, both of Sallis, were charged with the murder of Cedric M. Sharkey. Sharkey was shot in the chest on Jan. 7.

Attala County authorites said Barber and Ware allegedly killed Sharkey because they thought he was stealing iron and scrap metal from Barber’s property. The men reportedly confronted Sharkey, who is black, on Attala County Road 4106, and Sharkey sustained a gunshot wound to the chest during the altercation.

The FBI is also investigating to determine if the case is a hate crime.

Barber and Ware appeared before Attala County Justice Court Judge Bob Jordan who bound them over to the grand jury.

Bond for both men was set at $500,000. Barber posted bond and was released while Ware remains in jail.