2nd Suspect In Custody In Marshall-Shadeland Barbershop Murder
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A second suspect is in custody in connection with a fatal shooting of a barbershop owner last week.
Lamar Thomas, 44, was fatally shot in his barbershop on Stayton Street on July 29. Thomas had been operating the barbershop for only a few weeks before the shooting.
Today, Pittsburgh Police announced that Keith Payne, 19, of the Hill District, was in custody.
Javahn Griffin, 22, of the Hill District, was already in police custody.
Police say the motive for the shooting was robbery.
Previously, Pittsburgh attorney Jeffrey Weinberg told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti that he was contacted by a witness. The lawyer told KDKA that his client was with two men at the time of the shooting.
Weinberg's client is a jitney driver. 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.
Griffin and Payne are facing charges of criminal homicide, robbery and criminal conspiracy.
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