Suspects Identified In Barbershop Murder, 1 In Custody
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Police have identified two suspects in the weekend murder of Marshall-Shadeland barbershop owner.
Lamar Thomas, 44, was fatally shot in his barbershop on Stayton Street Saturday evening.
Javahn Griffin, 22, is already in custody. A warrant is out for the arrest of 19-year-old Keith Payne. Both are from the Hill District.
Police say the motive for the shooting was robbery.
Pittsburgh Attorney Jeffrey Weinberg told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti that he was contacted by a witness.
"He was a witness, and in good conscience, he contacted me and I'm an officer of the court, and I contacted the District Attorney's Office and indicated that he can solve this crime for them," said Weinberg. "He wanted to do what was the right thing and I think he did."
The lawyer told KDKA that his client was with two men at the time of the shooting.
Weinberg's client is a jitney drive. Police say he indicated he drove both suspects to the barbershop to buy synthetic marijuana. He allegedly told police everyone knew the drug was available there.
Sources say once inside, the suspects got into an altercation with Thomas.
Sources say the suspects shot Thomas, took $200 cash from him, and then ordered the jitney driver to take them from the scene. That driver is now in hiding.
Meanwhile, sources also confirm the driver was concerned he would face some sort of prosecution for a possible role in the case. KDKA's Marty Griffin is told the driver will receive immunity from prosecution for his testimony.
Thomas had been operating the barbershop for only a few weeks before the shooting.
Griffin and Payne are facing charges of criminal homicide, robbery and criminal conspiracy.
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