The North American dressage community is in shock over news that international trainer-rider Michael Barisone is implicated in the shooting of client, Lauren Kanarek.
On August 8th, Barisone was charged with two counts of Attempted Murder, crimes of the first degree, and two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, crimes of the second degree.
The incident took place on August 7th at Barisone’s Hawthorne Hill dressage facility in Long Valley, New Jersey.
Barisone, 54, was widely identified on social media as the suspect who was taken into custody, well before the police released his name.
Kanarek, 38, underwent surgery for multiple wounds to the chest. She was stable as of yesterday evening, according to her friend Rosanna Williams of Ultimate Equine International, who is posting regular updates on Facebook.
Barisone was also injured, while not needing hospital treatment. A third person sustained a broken wrist, who is identified by Williams as Kanarek’s fiancé Rob.
It is unclear in which order the three parties’ respective injuries occurred.
Barisone is the 2008 US Olympic team reserve and trainer of Ali Brock, among other successful Grand Prix rider. Kanarek moved to Hawthorne Hill last year and initially gave Hawthorne Hill a 5* review on Facebook. But in recent weeks her social media account has contained a series of disturbing public posts openly complaining about the service she receives from her trainer. Earlier this week she alleged she was “afraid” after being bullied by man she did not name; she had approached SafeSport.
A Washington Township Police Department statement said: “At approximately 2:15 p.m., police were dispatched to 411 West Mill Road on a report of shots fired. Members of the Washington Township Police Department responded quickly, took the suspect into custody and secured the scene. Law enforcement located one individual who had sustained what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Two additional injured individuals were also located on the scene, including the suspect.”
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