Man shot to death inside a crowded barbershop in JP
A young man was fatally shot late Saturday night inside a popular Jamaica Plain barbershop that witnesses said was packed with patrons, including a child.
The victim’s identity was not immediately released. Police said he is believed to be in his 20s. He was shot inside the Professional Barber Shop at South and Boynton streets shortly after 9:45 p.m. Saturday despite signs posted in the front windows that read, “Smile, You’re on Camera,” and “Warning: Security Cameras in Use.”
A solemn man who lingered a long time outside the closed salon yesterday said he was the owner. The victim, he said, was an occasional customer. He declined to give his name or speak about the shooting.
A memorial outside the shop was hastily assembled out of carnations, lit candles, white rosary beads, an empty jug of Hennessy cognac and cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies and potato chips, along with personal messages about the slain man.
Jeff Somers, a bartender at the Jeanie Johnston Pub a couple of doors down, said witnesses saw a partially masked man running away from the scene in the direction of Forest Hills T station. He said police asked to see the restaurant’s security video.
“I was in here working and heard a bunch of commotion outside. My friend who works here, and a bunch of people, said they heard four gunshots and there was a lot of chaos. The cops had just shown up. My door guy was inside (the barbershop) and literally had blood all over his hands because he’s a former Marine, so he was trying to resuscitate the guy,” Somers said.
“I heard he was shot in the back. Luckily no one else got hurt because there was a little kid in there, like 6 years old, with his dad. The barbershop was totally full. It’s really sad.”
Nita Holder and her husband stopped by yesterday to comfort the shop owner. She said the tragedy will not deter her family from patronizing Professional Barber Shop in the future.
“This area is a nice area. My son goes to the barbershop, my husband goes to the barbershop,” Holder said.
“It’s very family friendly. The owner, he’s a very nice guy. I hope that whoever did this gets caught immediately. For something like that to happen in this neighborhood, it doesn’t belong here. Violence doesn’t belong anywhere around here, and in the city of Boston, for that matter.”