Police Hope Surveillance Video Will Help ID Marshall-Shadeland Murder Suspects

MARSHALL-SHADELAND (KDKA) - As family and friends mourn a local barber, police are combing through surveillance video, hoping it will help catch his murderer.

In the last decade, two business owners have been shot and killed in their stores in this building. The first happened back in 2008. A clothing store owner was murdered during a robbery.

The latest happened just Saturday night. A barber shop owner shot and killed and Pittsburgh police are still looking for the person responsible in the murder.">

Monday morning, a detective walked into the L&S Connection barber shop, just over 36 hours after the murder of the store owner, Lamar Thomas.

The detective was joined by a family member and two men from a security system company.

Family members said they are trying to access video from inside the barber shop on Stayton Street in Marshall-Shadeland.

The 44-year-old was shot to death in the store around 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Sunday night, a crowd gathered outside the shop to remember Thomas. He just opened the shop within the last couple of months. Earlier this month, he celebrated his one year anniversary with his wife.

The neighborhood has been the scene of three other non-fatal shootings in the past week and a half.

When asked about the Thomas shooting Monday, Mayor Bill Peduto said, "there were concerns over whether the barber shop had the proper permits; it was set up rather quickly, so we have to look into when the barber shop opened."

Family members said over the weekend that Thomas had opened the business just a few weeks ago.

Councilwoman Darlene Harris, whose district includes the Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, pointed out there's a severe manpower shortage in the Police Department right now, and she wondered if drugs might have played a part in the shooting, pointing out that drugs are often involved in the spike in recent violent crimes.

Police have not said what the motive might have been.

Terrchell Little, Thomas' step-daughter, said "I just hope whoever did this feels guilty, and I hope he turns himself in."

"He married my daughter with seven kids, so he's definitely wonderful," Thomas' mother-in-law, Sheril Massie, said.

Almost seven years ago at the very same building, Michael Ross, owner of CM&M Fashions was murdered during a robbery. Police arrested two men soon after the shooting and both were found guilty in the murder.

A friend who was at the vigil for Thomas last night hopes police are quick with an arrest in this shooting.

"There's a lot of crime going on Pittsburgh we just want them to be aware that this isn't just a regular case," Darcel Madkins said.

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