DOTHAN, AL — What began as a normal Sunday afternoon at a barbershop inside the Wiregrass Commons Mall quickly turned into chaos and gunfire, leaving shoppers terrified and one man hospitalized. Authorities have arrested 25-year-old Sharier AlQuan Caesar of Greenville, North Carolina, after he allegedly opened fire inside Not Just Cuts Barbershop during a shootout.
According to Dothan Police Lieutenant Scott Owens, the violent exchange took place around 4 p.m. on Sunday, when a customer was sitting in a barber’s chair getting a haircut. Moments later, three men — including 20-year-old Korlon Michael Salter — entered the shop and began making verbal threats. One of the suspects brandished a firearm, escalating tensions within seconds.
Police said the customer, who was legally armed, drew his weapon in self-defense. The confrontation rapidly erupted into a barrage of gunfire. Witnesses inside the mall described hearing as many as 50 shots, sending patrons scrambling for cover and sparking panic throughout the shopping center.
During the exchange, Salter was struck multiple times and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains under medical care. The armed customer reportedly escaped unharmed after retreating into a back room.
Investigators later identified Sharier AlQuan Caesar as one of the gunmen who fired rounds during the altercation. On Wednesday morning around 9:30 a.m., Caesar surrendered to authorities at the Houston County Jail. He now faces serious charges related to the shootout and remains in custody as detectives continue their investigation.
Authorities are also exploring a possible link between the Dothan barbershop shooting and an earlier October 5 killing of 23-year-old Bobby Lee David Miracle Lucas near Troy, Alabama. While police have not confirmed an official connection, Lt. Owens said the barbershop incident may have stemmed from “past incidents and ongoing disputes.”
The Dothan Police Department, along with state and local law enforcement partners, continues to investigate the case, reviewing surveillance footage, collecting ballistic evidence, and interviewing witnesses. Police emphasized that this was not a random act of violence but rather a targeted encounter that spilled into a public setting.
Authorities have reassured the community that there is no ongoing threat to public safety, but they urge anyone with information about the incident or related events to contact Dothan Police.
This shocking event has left mall employees and shoppers shaken, as what should have been a peaceful weekend afternoon turned into a scene of terror. Community members are expressing relief that more people weren’t injured — while also calling for peace amid ongoing gun violence.
