5-year-old, 6-year-old inside Detroit barbershop when 9 people were shot

People hailing barber a hero for saving young kids from shootings

DETROIT – Joezell Williams, 61, of Detroit, was standing on the back step of Al's Barbershop with his stepson when gunfire erupted Wednesday evening.

Friends of the Williams say the 61-year-old was among the first to be shot. Also killed was Williams' stepson.

Williams was interviewed last year by Local 4 when he tried to save his elderly neighbor from a fire.

Watch: Woman dies in Detroit house fire

Local 4 has also learned the identity of another victim, 29-year-old Bryian Williams.

You can see the bullet holes in the door and building. Men inside the barber shop at the time say the shots came from an ak-47 or ar-15 Assault rifle.

Raw video: Surveillance shows victims of barbershop shooting

---Bullet holes in the side of Al's Barbershop in Detroit where 9 people were shot

Two men who were inside the barbershop said the small shop was packed with 20-30 men, older men in their 40's, 50's and 60's. They were gambling, playing dice.

Both men do not want to appear on camera, but one of the men showed me his sweatshirt full of bullet holes. He was on the floor of the shop - and shots went through his clothing, but did not hit him. His friend was grazed in the leg.

The man who came so close to getting hit says he emptied his conceal carry weapon toward the gunfire. Police now have his gun.

A 6-year-old boy was in the chair getting a haircut and a 5-year-old boy was waiting to get his hair cut.

The man cutting the hair grabbed both boys and got them to another room - the men say the barber is a hero.

Police said in a Thursday press conference that they have arrested a person of interest in the case on an unrelated assault charge. Investigators also said they're not sure whether more than one shooter was involved.

Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for anyone with information about the shooting.

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About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.