Homicide detectives investigating slaying outside N. Side

Columbus police homicide detectives have identified a barber who was fatally shot early Tuesday afternoon just outside the barbershop where he worked on the city’s North Side.

Lawrence Jefferson, 51, of Reynoldsburg, was working inside Executive Barber Salon, located down a small flight of stairs from a food market in a multi-space commercial building at 5880 N. Meadows Blvd. when a man walked into the shop shortly after noon, police said. 

The barber and the man talked briefly then went just outside the shop to a landing area near the bottom of the stairs.  Another barber and a customer inside then “heard gunshots,” homicide detectives said. 

Jefferson was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:12 p.m. by paramedics.

The suspect fled on foot. Detectives say they are looking for a person of interest described as a black male with a medium build who was wearing a black ballcap, gray hooded sweatshirt and large, dark sunglasses. 

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Troy Cherry, who owns the barbershop, said the barber — later identified by police as Jefferson — had no problems that he was aware of.

“He just started working here about a month ago and was a good guy as far as I’m concerned,” Cherry said. “I’m just waiting to hear what happened like everyone else.”