Lawrence L. Jefferson, a 51-year-old African American man, was shot and killed on April 26, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio while working at the Executive Barber Salon on Northmeadows Boulevard. He had been on the job about a month when, according to police reports, a man identified as 40-year-old Jermaine King walked from a nearby apartment complex through an alley to the shop, entered, and shot Jefferson at least twice in broad daylight. Jefferson was pronounced dead at the scene.

King was identified through video surveillance and witness accounts, later arrested and charged with aggravated murder and held at Franklin County Jail with a $1.2 million bond. At trial King said the shooting was accidental and that Jefferson had grabbed his gun during a scuffle; the jury convicted King of murder but acquitted him of aggravated murder. Jefferson’s family, including his wife Danille Jefferson and his mother Mattie Mae Jefferson, publicly expressed grief and frustration; Danille said King had previously threatened her husband. Jefferson’s death was recorded as the 37th homicide in Columbus that year.

If anyone knew Lawrence, worked at or near the Executive Barber Salon, or saw activity in that alley on April 26, 2022, please share information.