WSVN — If you find someone who knew Paul Stephen Barrett, odds are you will find someone who adored him.
Dorrel Barrett: "Steven was a loving, caring young man. He grew up to be a loving father and husband."
Sandra Stewart: "He played the guitar at his uncle's church, and he brought so much life to the old revival church. You could not sit still when Steve was playing guitar."
Stephen grew up in Brooklyn in the shadow of his uncle's church, met his wife there, had three children there, and in 2002 they all came to South Florida for a better life. Instead, the move ended his life.
Detective Mark Ganow: "The body was found on the ground here."
A year and a half ago, Stephen went to this Miramar nightclub for a drink and something to eat. What he got was trouble.
Detective Mark Ganow: "And evidently there was some sort of an argument that occurred within the club between him and some other male."
But just as his friends would expect, Stephen calmed everyone down, even bought drinks for them. He then got his food and walked outside.
Detective Mark Ganow: "The victim was walking along the path that you see here. There was a black SUV, large SUV. It was traveling to the end of the lot to here. As it got to this location, a single shot was fired."
Thirty-year-old Stephen Barrett was killed instantly. Sandra got the call from her daughter.
Sandra Stewart: "'Mommy, someone killed Stevie.' I couldn't believe it. I was lost. I was shocked. I was in disbelief."
Dorrel still can't believe Stephen is gone forever.
Dorrel Barrett: "I cannot explain how much it has affected me. It has affected me tremendously. I can remember the Saturday morning, the Friday night before his death. He spoke to me, and the last thing he said to me was, 'Tonti, I love you.'"
A father of three killed for no good reason. When detectives start digging into someone's past, they often find a few enemies, not Stephen, a nice guy that everybody liked. What detectives want to find though, are some of the people who were in the club that night who might have seen or heard something from the people who got into that black SUV.
Detective Mark Ganow: "You know that the number of people that were in the that, somebody had to hear or overhear a conversation. Most likely, the person in the club was there with others."
A few answers from some club-goers to help ease the enormous pain of a family.
Sandra Stewart: "I will never be the same. It has changed me. It has changed me so much."
Dorrel Barrett: "All I could say: 'My God, my God, Why?' and up to this day I cannot hold my tears whenever I think about Stephen."
A devastated family waiting to hear from determined Miramar Detectives that someone has some information.
Detective Mark Ganow: "It is frustrating. We don't like to see these type of cases go unsolved."
If you have any information on the murder of Stephen Barret at Tropics in January 2008, give Crime Stoppers a call. The Barrett family is hoping and praying that someone will step up.
If you have any information on this crime, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
And if you've lost a loved one, want someone to pay for what they did, don't want people to forget about your friend or family member, give us a call. Many people are still out for justice.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Out for JusticeMIAMI-DADE: 305-598-HELPBROWARD: 954-796-HELP