A shooting at the Exclusive Barbershop and Salon on Washington Street in Dorchester on September 2, 2024, killed 20-year-old Elijah Ricardo Clunie. Clunie and another adult male were shot just before 1 p.m.; both were taken to local hospitals with life-threatening injuries and Clunie was pronounced dead. The other victim’s name has not been released and is expected to survive.

Police described the shooting as not random. Investigators say 32-year-old Diamond Jose Brito of Canton first entered the shop, asked how long a haircut would take, left, then returned and fired one fatal shot into Clunie’s head as he sat in the barber’s chair and fired multiple times at the other man. Brito was arrested on October 10 and arraigned the next day; he was held without bail with orders not to contact the surviving victim or witnesses.

Clunie’s family attended the arraignment and spoke of their grief and anger. The Suffolk District Attorney called the killing deplorable and heartless and said justice must be pursued. Barbershop shootings and robberies around the city have raised wider safety concerns.