Man shot, killed in barber shop parking lot

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are investigating a shooting that left a man dead in the parking lot of a barber shop early Thursday morning.

Police say they responded to a person shot at the Boyz in the Hood Barber Shop at 2587 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway around 6 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members identified the victim as 29-year-old Willie James Kirkpatrick, also known as Pierre.

Investigators believe that a group of people had gathered for an annual BBQ honoring the life of someone who was close to all of them. At some point, the gathering spiraled out of control and shots rang out. Kirkpatrick was shot at least once in the chest.

Investigators spent the day canvassing the neighborhood looking for possible clues to the shooting.

“I think once we clear the scene and start doing a better canvass we’ll get more information on exactly what happened,” said Atlanta police Lt. Charles Hampton.

Kirkpatrick's sister-in-law says she was very close to him and that she found out about the death on Instagram.

"My baby is named after him and not his daddy, we had that type of relationship. He loved his momma, his daughter,” said Kirkpatrick’s sister-in-law, Arisha Glover.

A friend of Kirkpatrick's says the senseless killing needs to stop.

“He was loving and caring. He didn’t bother anyone, I’m talking no beef with nobody, nobody,” said a woman who only wanted to be identified as “Rudy.” She said Kirkpatrick was her boyfriend.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information on the party or the shooting call police or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.

WSBTV