The southwest Atlanta community is in shock after a fatal workplace shooting at Up Next Barber Shop & Beauty. The incident occurred in the Princeton Lakes Shopping Center on Carmia Drive, where 53-year-old barber Stephen Everson lost his life after being shot by a fellow barber amidst a heated dispute concerning a client. The suspect, 44-year-old James Moss, was later taken into custody and is facing charges including murder, according to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Reactions to the shooting reveal the unexpected nature of the conflict turned deadly, with one stunned customer, who had heard the gunshots while working next door, expressing her shock at the tranquility being so violently disrupted. Fatima Mensch, the neighbor, recounted to FOX 5 Atlanta, “I heard something like a gunshot,” and was surprised, as she remarked, “It was so shocking because I liked the guys; they were so nice.” Witnesses and acquaintances of the victim share grief and shock, with Rohalia Knight, a client of Everson, remembering him as a gentle and devoted father of five in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. “He loved his kids; we talked about them all the time. I spoke with him just yesterday, and today, to find out he’s deceased is just shocking,” she said.
In an interview with 11Alive, an anonymous customer lamented the potential loss of a feeling of safety at the plaza, “I’m afraid. I don’t think my family and I will be returning.” A shooting that took place just after 10 a.m. last Thursday has triggered a swift response from Atlanta Police…