Party at Clippers Barbershop erupts in fatal gunfire; second killing at shop this summer

Karl Etters
Tallahassee Democrat

The 34-year-old man found dead behind Clippers Barbershop Tuesday morning was killed when gunfire interrupted a party there, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.

Looking to find answers in the death of Alex Harvey, TPD released a few more details about the moments that the party erupted in gunfire that “caused this senseless and life ending act.”

It's not the first act of violent bloodshed tied to the barbershop. In June, the community was stunned when barber Tyras McKinney was gunned down by a fellow barber inside the shop in front of his 3-year-old son. 

Xaver Barkley, 28, was arrested and faces charges of murder, kidnapping and three counts of aggravated assault.

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No arrests have been made in Tuesday's shooting, and TPD is looking for leads.

Police said there was a verbal altercation at a party outside the barbershop that ended before the victim arrived.

As a crowd of people continued to socialize outside the South Adams Street strip mall, gunshots rang out and people began to flee. Bullets hit a vehicle where a 5-year-old child and an adult were sitting, but no one was injured.

People began to search for Harvey, who they’d seen running in the midst of the gunfire. He later was found dead in a wooded area behind the barbershop.

A dead gunshot victim was found in a wooded area behind the Tallahassee Auto Clinic on South Monroe Street Tuesday morning.

Police are asking anyone with information to divulge suspects in the case.

Back story:Gunshot victim found dead off South Monroe Street, marks 11th fatal shooting in 2019

“TPD’s Violent Crimes Investigators are aware that approximately 20 to 30 people were in attendance and saw or know the suspect who caused this senseless and life ending act,” wrote TPD Spokesman Damon Miller in a news release.

Anyone with information is asked to call TPD at (850) 891-4200 or CrimeStoppers anonymously at (850) 574-TIPS.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter