Local News

Barbershop to boost security

10 November 2024
This content originally appeared on Barbados Nation News.

It has been a little more than a week after masked gunmen spread fear and terror among patrons of King of Fades barbershop in Sheraton Mall, Christ Church.

Yesterday, with the shop full of men, women and children either getting cuts or waiting for service, owner Rico McDonald said it was an unfortunate event but they were putting it behind them while increasing security.

“We reopened the Monday afterwards, this [past] week, and everything is back to normal. We will increase security so we will have a guard stationed here from [tomorrow],” he said.

On November 2, around 12:30 p.m., gunmen opened fire at two men who had run into the shop for refuge. One was injured while a woman was hit with a ricochet on the leg. Both people were taken away to seek medical attention.

After the shooting, one of the barbers was overheard saying he was going to quit. He said: “I got six children; you think I goin’ risk getting kill just from coming to work? I done with that!”

However, McDonald said he did not end up losing any employees as the man had changed his mind. He said his shop ended up being a port from the storm.

‘Started in food court’

“This thing start in the food court in the mall and end up here. The men run into my shop and shut the door; they wanted to use my shop as a shield. The other men shoot at the one trying to lock the door, that’s how he get hit and another bullet ricochet and hit the woman. Then they drove off,” he recalled.

McDonald said he was not happy about the incident but he could only move on.

“Things happen every day. I’m just sorry they did it in a public place like mine and risked people’s lives. I hope it won’t affect my business because [what happened] wasn’t affiliated with King of Fades. That could have [happened] anywhere. It’s just unfortunate it was here,” he told the Sunday Sun.

At that time, a young man who was inside the shop when the shots were fired, while appearing calm, admitted he was scared. He said the man who was shot at was sitting near him.

“I was waiting to get a haircut when I hear four shots. The man next to me had gone outside, then he run back in and that’s when I hear the shots. A woman was screaming and later I saw she get shoot in she leg. I’ve experienced a lot of stupidness but I was scared for my life this time,” he said, adding the man who was shot at was able to escape unhurt.

That same day, police reported they apprehended two men they believed to have been involved in the shooting. They said the men, who were travelling on a motorcycle, had also opened fire at a group of men in Silver Sands, injuring a passer-by.

Police investigations are continuing into the matter. (CA)