This Christmas, Winter Haven mother hopes for arrest in son's murder

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Stockings were hung in the Barber household with extra care this year. The family of four will be celebrating the holiday as three, after 21 year-old Darnell Powell was shot to death while sleeping in his home in September, his killer still at large. 

"It was hard but I just decided I couldn’t not put his stocking up. His stocking always hangs right next to mine," said Darnya Barber.

Today in Winter Haven, Police Chief Charlie Bird asked for the public's help.

"What we're looking for at the police department is to jog someone's memory," Chief Bird said. Someone may have been driving by that night; we had calls of gunshots being fired. Somebody may have looked out their window."

"If anyone knows anything, I just want them to help us out, just say something," Barber offered.

Powell was shot through his bedroom window just before the sun rose September 29. People who live at the home do not believe he was the intended target, a heartbreaking thought for his mother.

"The biggest frustration is not knowing who would shoot my son while he was asleep," she said.

Though this Christmas will be a blue one, the family is choosing to remember the life over the loss. 

"Hopefully we can put his headstone down," Barber added, crying. "We want to get his headstone placed. His brother and I are going to burn candles Christmas week for him."