Victim In Barber Shop 'Execution-Style' Shooting Identified
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Police have identified the 26-year-old man who was murdered 'execution-style' inside an east Baltimore barber shop Tuesday afternoon.
The incident happened at the Cut Above All shop, off McElderry Street.
"Just ridiculous and stupid and cowardly," said T.J. Smith of the Baltimore City Police. "No evidence at this point that points to any type of gang initiation or retaliation."
Police are still searching for the suspects, and are hoping surveillance video can help bring the killers behind bars.
The surveillance video even shows one of the suspects walking back the barber shop inside a second time to fire more shots, before running away. Police say the trio shot him execution style, just minutes after the victim sat down.
Police say the three masked men then took off in a 4-door red Nissan, and they are still on the run. Police believe the victim was targeted.
Police were close to tracking down the vehicle just minutes after the shooting, and just blocks away from Johns Hopkins Hospital.
An officer about to go on duty spotted the suspects take off in the red Nissan, but struggled to keep up with them: "Stuck in traffic right now, right in front of Monument and Rose, got the three suspects in it. I'm in my personal vehicle trying to get closer to get a tag. They just shot someone in that barber shop right there."
"When you're dealing with a blood war, it's a lot personal and a lot more dangerous, because they're going off emotions," said Dr. Ted Sutton, a gang member turned community activist.
Sutton says shootings like Tuesday's, often lead to retaliation.
"When you hear something happened, you best believe there's going to be a part two to it," said Sutton. "When you take away hope from people, you actually make the perfect criminal, a person with nothing to lose."
And until repeat offenders can picture opportunity to get out of the game, they'll continue to dabble in the violence.
Dr. Sutton continues to try and talk with as many young kids and gang members as possible, to try and make sure they're headed on the right path.
Anyone with information on the barber shop killing is urged to call Baltimore City Police immediately or use the text tip line at 443-902-4824.
Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook