Police seek information in barber's slaying

Toronto police are looking for witnesses in the fatal shooting of a Scarborough barber, including the customer who was sitting in the chair when Chris Thompson was shot dead.

Thompson was the 35-year-old barber who was shot and killed Tuesday inside the Cut Creator barbershop at 31 Tapscott Road in the Malvern Town Centre.

Investigators say a man entered the shop about 12:45 p.m. and fired several shots at Thompson, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Det. Sgt. Dan Nielsen told reporters Wednesday that the suspect had concealed a shotgun in a bag before entering the shop.

The entire incident was over in less than two minutes.

Barber was targeted

"This was a very cool, cold-blooded crime," Nielsen said.

"The shooter was very discriminating. There were no other people shot. Its very clear that he was targeting Chris."

The shooter did not speak to anyone while he was in the barbershop.

After the shooting, the suspect fled through the plaza parking lot toward McLevin Avenue.

Nielsen said the suspect is a male who isfive-foot-eight-inches to five-foot-ten-inches, with a slim to medium build. His face was partially concealed when he entered the barbershop. He wore a dark jacket, dark pants and a light- or grey-coloured sweat top.

Surveillance video available

So far, police have interviewed some of the people who were in the barbershop when Thompson was shot. But Nielsen said one or two customers fled the scene before speaking with police, including the one Thompson was serving when he was attacked.

Police are appealing to those witnesses to come forward, though Nielsen said it is expected that investigators will be able to identify them through surveillance video from outside of the shop.

Nielsen said investigators have had "good co-operation" from witnesses and members of the public, but they believe there may still be others who can help them solve the case.

Thompson had worked at the barbershop for 16 years and was the father of two childrena 15-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl.

Nielsen said his family had intended to help police make a public appeal for help with the case, but they were too distraught to attend the news conference on Wednesday.

Thompson isToronto's fifth homicide victim so far this year.