Saturday night, a 17-year-old business owner was shot and killed outside the barbershop he co-owned with his mother in Clayton County.
Anthony ‘China’ McClain, according to authorities, was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire when shots rang out at a shopping plaza off River Station Boulevard.
According to a witness who spoke to Channel 2′s Justin Carter, he was doing repairs in the area until he saw a man start firing at a white car, and someone responded by returning fire.
A bullet pierced a window, according to employees at the Wayfield Food grocery store next door.
Relatives gathered outside the shop on Saturday afternoon as Clayton County authorities cordoned off the area to conduct an investigation.
Mother mourns son killed outside Clayton County barbershop
LaShawn Hood, McClain’s cousin, believes it all started with a brawl inside the shop that poured into the parking area.
“He was just standing outside the barber shop, and there was some commotion and something happened and a stray bullet is what,” Hood explained.
McClain was said to be at work, just do what he loved best—cutting hair.
“Anthony was a very gifted child. He was home-schooled, very helpful with his mother, his grandparents and excelled at everything he did,” Hood said.
Hood stated that he demonstrated that spirit of excellence at the barbershop.
“He was very active. He was in his second year of college. He got his barber license,” she said.
Hood stated that McClain and his mother started the business together and created it from the ground up. Hood stated that young people’s violence must cease.
“It affects me a lot because my kids, they were very close. Just being a young kid, just being innocent and a part of the gun violence going on in the city,” Hood said. “I just have to say that I wish you would turn yourself in. Young people, please just put the guns down. There are other ways to handle situations other than violence,” said Hood.
