2 men in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder

TRENTON, Tenn.–“Had we not stopped it when we did, he had about 3 hours left to live,” said West Tennessee Drug Task Force Special Agent in Charge, Johnie Carter.

A man’s life is saved after the arrest of two men accused in what investigators are calling a murder for hire plot.

22-year-old Gregory Barnes and 43-year-old Stephen Taylor were arrested February 7 on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Special Agent in Charge Johnie Carter said the West Tennessee Drug Task Force and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation received information that Taylor had allegedly hired Barnes to kill a Murfreesboro man.

“The alleged victim was set to testify against Taylor in Murfreesboro in circuit court, on an outstanding case,” said Carter.

Investigators said Taylor was facing burglary and aggravated assault charges, in which the Murfreesboro man, the target of the hit, was the alleged victim.

Carter said thanks to information they received, investigators were able to take the intended victim into protective custody and arrest the suspects in time.

“We arrested Barnes in Gibson County, between Milan and Medina, on Highway 45, and TBI Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro SWAT took Taylor into custody later that night,” said Carter.

Investigators said Taylor is being held at the Gibson County Correctional Complex and Barnes in a separate, undisclosed location awaiting their arraignments to be held later this week at the Gibson County Courthouse.

“Taylor is being held without bond at this time, and Barnes is being held in lieu of a half-million dollars bond,” said Carter.

Carter said this case is a first for his agency and emphasizes the credit in making these arrests, goes to the public.

“We cannot do our job without the public’s involvement,” said Carter.