Phenix City homicides update: 2 men fatally shot at Rad Kutz Barbershop

Two men were fatally shot Tuesday afternoon at a South Seale Road barber shop in Phenix City, authorities said.

Shedrick Antonio Dixon, 34, of Phenix City, and Keith Weeks, 37, of Smiths, Ala., were shot at Rad Kutz Barber Shop, 101 S. Seale Road, between 1:30 - 2 p.m., said Phenix City Assistant Police Chief Robert Casteel.

“We think maybe a third person was involved,” Casteel said. “The two deceased were engaged in an argument. One of the men was found dead inside the barbershop. One of the men was found dead outside on the sidewalk.”

At least five other people were at the barber shop at the time of the shooting, Casteel said. Witnesses were being interviewed Tuesday evening. One of the deceased men was at the barbershop for a haircut. The other came to the shop to argue with him, Casteel said. The chief added that police didn’t yet know why the pair was arguing.

At least 10 shots were fired by at least two weapons, Casteel said. One of them, a handgun, was recovered.

The men had known each other for a long time, the chief said.

Someone called 911 about the shooting and police responded to the scene. A large crowd was still gathered around the one-story brick-front barber shop around 3:30 p.m. and traffic was slowed both ways. A police car was stopped in the median with its lights flashing as an officer stood outside the barber shop. Yellow crime tape formed a barrier in front of the business as law enforcement officers spoke to each other within it.

Dolores Thomas, whose grandson gets his hair cut at the barber shop, said the business has been operating for at least 25 years.

“It’s a good barber shop,” she said. “My grandson could even call them on Sunday and get his hair cut.”

In fact, Thomas said her grandson had just attended a funeral Tuesday and called the barber shop inquiring about getting a haircut that day. However, his mother advised him not to go.

“For some reason, my daughter told him to go to some other barber shop,” Thomas said. “He could have been killed. He could have been one of the victims.”