Accused Murderer's Brother Shocked By Allegations

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The brother of an accused cold-blooded murderer was stunned on Tuesday when CBS13 broke the news to him that his sibling was behind bars.

"It's a complete shock to me about what I'm hearing about my young brother," Don Barber said from his modest midtown Sacramento apartment. "He's not a violent person."

But detectives with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department believe otherwise. They arrested 47-year-old Dupree Barber on Tuesday for the murder of Cordova Parks and Recreation District superintendent Steven Dupree, 59.

"Actually our investigation has been focusing on him," sheriff's spokesman Deputy Jason Ramos said. "His name kind of came up early on in this investigation."

Ebert was found dead early Monday morning slumped back in the driver seat of his SUV near Hagan Community Park on Chase Drive after being shot multiple times.

Barber is a former parks district employee who recently lost his job, and investigators say losing his job may be the motivation for murder.

"This individual was laid off," Ramos said. "The victim in this case was either his direct supervisor or instrumental in those layoffs."

Barber turned himself in Tuesday morning to West Sacramento police when he approached an officer and reportedly said "I think I'm wanted." He was later booked into the Sacramento County jail and is being held without bail.

His brother Don didn't want to talk about the investigation.

"I'm not going to make no comment on that," he said.

But he did have a message for his little brother.
"I just want him to know that I'm praying for him and that I love him," he said.