Former Fairview football star killed

By MARK MAYNARD
The Independent

May 13, 2008 11:10 pm

— A former area high school football star was shot and killed while trying to break up a fight on a Transit Authority of River Cities bus Saturday night in Louisville.
Timothy D. Barbour, a 2000 Fairview High School graduate who was the 1999 All-Area Small School Co-Player of the Year, was trying to be a peacemaker after an altercation apparently broke out on the bus between some men and women.
During the altercation, Barbour and another man tried to break up the argument. Gunfire erupted instead, killing the 26-year-old Barbour and wounding the other man, police said.
Police arrested 22-year-old Apollo R. Avery, charging him with murder, first-degree assault and several counts of wanton endangerment.
The investigation is ongoing and police are reviewing video from a surveillance camera on the bus, according to a story in The Courier-Journal.
The incident happened around 10:40 p.m. at 10th Street and Broadway, in front of the TARC’s Union Station headquarters. The bus driver pulled over to let people off the bus at the intersection when shots were fired.
Barbour was taken to University Hospital where he died at 11:19 p.m., according to Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Jo-Ann Farmer.
Barbour was coming home following a day of custodial work.
Barbour played in the 1998 and 1999 seasons at Fairview for coach Jeff Smith, who was his foster parent. As a senior, Barbour rushed for 1,102 yards on only 151 carries (7.3 yards per carry) and scored nine touchdowns.
“He lived with us for over a year,” Smith said. “It tore my wife (Teresa) and me up pretty good when we heard about it. We talked to him on a regular basis, kept in touch. He’s like a son to us. I’ve had three or four foster kids and Tim is the only one who truly became a member of the family. He was welcome any time.”
Barbour was named The Independent’s Small School Co-Player of the Year with Raceland all-purpose player B.J. Byrd after his senior season when the Eagles went 4-6.
“He only played a couple of years of organized sports,” Smith said. “Tim was the best athlete I had there. He was by far the best athlete. He loved to hit people. We ended up playing him at linebacker. He’d punish you.”
Barbour is survived by his children, Isiah, Malachi and Nyeisha; his mother, Janet Barbour; father, Carlos Banks; and sisters, Shekita and Shequay Barbour, Carlene Welder and Lashesha Catherine.
TARC officials are helping the family with funeral expenses. Barbour’s funeral will be Thursday at G.C. Williams, with burial in Green Meadows. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 9.
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.