A longtime family friend of a University of Texas graduate found fatally shot in a West Campus condo with his girlfriend described him this afternoon as a "fun to be with" man whose family is in deep grief at his loss. "They are distraught and shocked," Houston attorney Gary Tidwell said. The family released a statement this afternoon: "Our son was a spontaneous, gregarious young man with a bright future and a smile for everyone he met. He and Stacy were very much in love and it saddens us deeply to be planning funerals instead of a wedding. . . . We will miss his spirit dearly." Tidwell has for years known the family of John Goosey, who was found dead at a condo at 904 W. 21st Street with girlfriend Stacy Barnett. Both are Houston natives. Goosey is the son of nationally known Houston eye surgeon John Goosey. Kendra Horn said she was in classes with Barnett for three years. "She was an amazing person," Horn said. "She was always smiling and always in a good mood and really fun to hang out with." Horn said Barnett had planned to go to Houston to look for a job in architecture. She said that she never heard Barnett express any concerns about her own safety. "She was a friend to everyone," Horn said. Austin police called on the public this morning to help identify any suspects in the deaths and urged neighbors to remain vigilant. Barnett's parents called friends in Austin, who went to the condominium to check on the couple after she failed to arrive to meet them in Houston on Tuesday. They discovered the bodies when they arrived, homicide Lt. Mark Spangler said. Authorities have ruled out murder-suicide. "We believe Stacy and John were both murdered," Spangler said. Detectives found no forced entry into the condo, which they said leads them to believe the couple may have known their killer or killers. However, investigators said they could not rule out a public threat. Throughout the night, authorities interviewed about 10 friends of the couple who had first-hand knowledge of their friendships and dealings. Friends had last spoken to Barnett on Tuesday morning. "We have a pretty good time frame with which they were last spoken to," Spangler said. According to her resume, Barnett graduated this spring with a degree in interior design and was involved in several professional organizations. Most recently, she interned for a large architecture firm in Houston, the resume said. "If there are any additional friends we haven' talked to yet, we would like to interview them," Spangler said. "Obviously, putting together as much information as possible of their last hours is critically important to the investigation." Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide tip line at 477-3588.

Published in Austin American-Statesman from Jul. 22 to Aug. 27, 2009.