A shooting at a barbershop near Boston left one man dead and another injured on Labor Day after a gunman walked in and opened fire on two customers, CBS News reported.
Police arrived just before 1 p.m. at the Exclusive Barbershop and Salon, located at the intersection of Erie St. and Washington St., in response to reports of two people being shot. Emergency workers transported both men to the hospital, where one was pronounced dead, while the other remains in critical but stable condition.
Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Paul McLaughlin stated that this was the second deadly shooting on Washington Street within a week. He noted that the victims appeared to have come to the salon for haircuts and indicated that this incident does not seem to be a random act of violence.
“I heard the shots and I stood up. I saw three kids come out and then I saw the actual gunman, dressed all in black. And he ran right across the street,” said Javier Nieves, a nearby resident, to WCBV5.
Witnesses inside the barbershop described the gunman approaching the first victim while he was getting a haircut and shooting him at close range. “Execution-style, that’s what the barbers are saying,” Nieves added.
Reiner Thompson, the grandfather of one of the victims, learned of the tragedy from his wife. “He got shot in the head; his grandmother said he got shot in the head,” Thompson said. He mentioned that he had recently been talking to his grandson about finding a job in the construction industry. Expressing his frustration, Thompson said, “I’m mad. You’ve got to be a leader, not a follower to all the young people. Don’t follow all the gangs, bad company. Get you a job, make your mothers and fathers proud.”
Police have not made any arrests yet and are currently seeking video evidence. They are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward. “We are canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses,” McLaughlin said. As of August 25, Boston had reported 10 deadly shootings in 2024.