On a Friday morning in November 2023, a busy shopping center in north St. Louis County turned deadly when a 35-year-old customer, Justin Welch, was shot inside E-Clazz Salon. The shooting happened about 11:15 a.m. in the 11600 block of West Florissant Avenue. Emergency responders found Welch inside the barbershop with gunshot wounds; he was taken to a local hospital and later died of his injuries.

Police identified a suspect, 31-year-old Nolan-Ryan Thomas, and charged him with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Investigators say Thomas entered the salon, got into an argument with Welch, punched him and then shot him.

Welch lived in Florissant; his family and friends held funeral services and he was entombed at Lake Charles Memorial Park Cemetery & Mausoleum. Does anyone have information about Welch’s time at that salon or the shopping center that could help the investigation?