Michael Barisone, a former Olympic equestrian and trainer, speaks out in his first television interview since the end of his trial for the attempted murder of a former student and her boyfriend, in “The Shooting of Lauren Kanarek,” the 35th season premiere of 48 HOURS, to be broadcast Saturday, Sept. 17 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
48 HOURS and contributor Nikki Battiste go inside the case against Barisone. The case made national headlines when Barisone was charged with attempting to kill Kanarek and Robert Goodwin at Barisone’s Long Valley, N.J., training center.
Battiste talked with both Barisone and Kanarek, whose paths crossed in 2018 when Kanarek was being trained and housed by Barisone and his staff at his New Jersey farm. Neither could have imagined then where their mutual love of horses would take them. Their relationship soured, they say, over the level of training Barisone provided to Kanarek. She then began posting messages on Facebook branding him a bully, racist and antisemitic – allegations Barisone denies.
Barisone’s supporters say her postings were unfairly damaging his reputation, and he worried it would ruin his business.
The Facebook posts seemed to rattle and unnerve Barisone to the point where he called 911 four times, telling police he “feared” for his life.
“I remember complete and total panic,” Barisone tells Battiste, “everybody says I was unglued. I was unglued.”
Then, on August 7, 2019, he allegedly confronted Kanarek.
Kanarek testified that Barisone “pulled out a gun and shot me once, twice, directly in the chest.”
Kanarek managed to call 911 and, after emergency surgery, survived.
Barisone tells Battiste he recalls the messages Kanarek posted on social media about him, but says he has no memory of the shooting.
“Did you shoot Lauren Kanarek?” Battiste asks Barisone.
“I’m told I did,” Barisone says.
“But I have no recollection of that event,” Barisone says. “Zero. Nothing.”
Barisone was charged with attempted murder and weapons charges. At trial, his attorney argued that Barisone was driven temporarily insane by Kanarek’s attacks and then snapped. Kanarek said during the trial that Barisone bullied her.
48 HOURS: “The Shooting of Lauren Kanarek” is a story about a top Olympic competitor’s fall from grace, and the student he allegedly tried to kill. It also raises serious questions about social media, and whether someone can be harassed enough online to mentally snap, shoot someone and then claim temporary insanity as a defense in court, as Barisone did. Kanarek and her family do not believe Barisone’s story, that he had no idea what he was doing when he pulled the trigger.
“Michael Barisone should be in a state prison for the rest of his life,” says Lauren Kanarek’s father, Jonathan Kanarek.
48 HOURS features interviews with Lauren and Jonathan Kanarek, Michael Barisone, attorneys for both sides, and friends, including top Olympic riders. 48 HOURS was also there for the trial in New Jersey and the dramatic verdict.
48 HOURS: “The Shooting of Lauren Kanarek” is produced by James Stolz. Alicia Tejada and Marc Goldbaum are the development producers. Michael Loftus is the field producer. Gregory Kaplan, Wini Dini and Michael Baluzy are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.
More from News:
