Police: Rock Hill barber pulled gun on customer, said he ‘does not cut black hair’

A Rock Hill barber is accused of pulling a gun on a black customer after telling the customer he “does not cut black hair,” according to law enforcement records.

Larry Thomas, 65, is charged with pointing and presenting a firearm, according to jail records. He remained jailed Wednesday at the York County Detention Center under $3,000 bond.

Deputies on Tuesday spoke with the victim, who said he went to the barber shop at 2145 Celanese Road and asked the barber, Thomas, if he could cut his hair, according to a sheriff’s report. The victim, who is black, said Thomas told him “that he does not cut black hair.”

When the victim questioned Thomas about what he meant by “black hair,” the report states, Thomas grabbed a pistol in his right hand and held it by his side.

The victim said Thomas never pointed the gun at him “but did present it,” and described the firearm as a snub-nosed .38-caliber revolver.

Deputies went to the barber shop to speak with Thomas, who told them he remembered the victim asking for a haircut, telling the victim he didn’t cut black hair and the man asking what he meant.

Thomas said he didn’t have a gun in his hand and that he keeps his guns locked in a shed, which he showed officers, the report states. A deputy saw a snub-nosed .38-caliber handgun that the victim described.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 4:54 PM with the headline "Police: Rock Hill barber pulled gun on customer, said he ‘does not cut black hair’."