Barbershop murder suspect put gun to child's head after shooting boy's father, police say
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Police say a man accused of shooting a Florida barber then picked up the barber's 2-year-old son and pointed the muzzle of the handgun at the boy's head.
Witnesses in the Tallahassee barbershop on Thursday evening pleaded for Xaver Barkley to release the child and began walking toward the gunman. Barkley waved the gun at the patrons before turning back to barber Tyras McKinney and shooting him a second time.
Barkley then let the boy go and walked away from Clippers barbershop.
The 28-year-old was arrested by Tallahassee police hours after the shooting on charges of murder, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping.
Police said one person died but did not name the victim. Family members confirmed it was McKinney.
Tallahassee police responded to calls about the shooting at the shop about 5:10 p.m.
A customer was in the barbershop at waiting for a haircut when McKinney and another man inside began arguing.
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"The next thing I know the guy in the left-hand corner ... pulled a gun out of his bag and shot the man," said Vincent Roebuck. "Just shot him."
A couple of hours later, citizens told investigators Barkley had returned on foot just north of the scene. He was immediately taken into custody and taken to police headquarters.
Barkley has a history of violence that includes aggravated assault with a firearm, battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief and burglary with assault.
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Thursday’s shooting is the 38th shooting in the Tallahassee and Leon County, Florida, area in 2019, according to a Tallahassee Democrat analysis. Eight of those have occurred in the past month. The shooting comes amid a local, state and federal crackdown on gun violence led by the Leon County Sheriff's Office.
Contributing: Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat. Follow MarKeith Cromartie on Twitter: @MCromartieTD
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Barbershop murder suspect put gun to child's head after shooting boy's father, police say
