MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Mount Dora police had a shopping center parking lot blocked off Friday night while officers investigated a homicide.
Authorities said officers were sent out about 6:30 p.m. after hearing preliminary reports that a man had been shot. When officials arrived to a barbershop on West Old Hwy 441, one man was found dead and another was injured in the parking lot.
The suspect, Ryan Thornhill, 36, is believed to be the man injured in the parking lot. He was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center.
A witness told News 6 that the owner of the barbershop was killed over a dispute of the price of a haircut.
Nicole Russell said a man told the barber he had $2, which he wanted to exchange for a haircut. Russell said the victim replied by saying he needed to come up with $8 more, because a haircut costs $10.
Russell said the suspect returned a short time later and shot the barbershop owner.
"He's real nice," Russell said. "He's kindhearted. He's doing the right thing. He's got his own business to try to earn money for his kids and his family."
A nearby business owner said the victim is a husband and a father from Puerto Rico.
Russell said the victim was so popular, people drove across Central Florida to visit his barbershop.
"They come from Orlando, Sanford -- everywhere to get a haircut from him because he's that good," Russell said.
Thornhill is expected to be released from Orlando Regional Medical Center late Friday and taken to the Orange County Jail.
The name of the victim has not been released.