A well-known barber in Pine Hills was killed during a robbery and shooting Wednesday night, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

  • 1 person killed, 1 injured
  • Police say someone walked into barbershop, opened fire
  • Follows shooting on Westmoreland Drive in Parramore neighborhood

Friends said 43-year-old Brian Berry had every opportunity to move his business out of Pine Hills but he never did, because he cared so much about the neighborhood.

Berry was a husband, a father of two and a business owner. 

In 2011, Brian Berry explained why he often gave free back-to-school haircuts.

“It’s a day to give back, it’s a community day," Berry said during a January 1, 2011 interview.

Berry was also a community advocate and a mentor to younger barbers.

"Basically, I looked at him as a father figure, brother, anything else I could think of. He was just that good of a guy that you could basically feel like he would do anything he could for you," said Mario Anderson, who has worked at Strictly Skillz Barbershop for the past 11 years.

Anderson said he was also robbed and witnessed the shooting. He said a group of barbers and customers were inside Strictly Skillz just after 8 p.m. Wednesday when a gunman held up the shop.

Dozens of people gathered Thursday night outside the shop for a vigil in Berry's name. The group grieved, prayed and pushed for change to prevent further violence.

The fatal shooting hit home for District 6 County Commissioner Victoria Siplin. Strictly Skillz, where the shooting happened, is where she took her two sons to get haircuts.

“They actually got their first haircut here,” said Siplin.

But even Siplin admits there’s only so much government officials can do to prevent something like this from happening.

“Because that’s one thing that we as government can’t, we can’t instill morality,” said Siplin. “People know right from wrong, but for some reason sometimes they do foolish things.”

At the vigil, community leaders asked for more people to rise up and serve the community like Berry did.

“We can’t blame the police officers, we can’t blame the commissioner, we can’t blame the mayors, we can’t blame the lawyers,” said Kelvin Roundtree. “Sometimes we’ve got to look at ourselves and say 'people, what are you doing?'”

Everyone at the vigil promised to set a good example to kids growing up in the community to show that violence like this is not acceptable.

“Brian would want us to continue the work that he’s been doing in the community, because we have to save the next generation to come,” said Siplin.


One person was killed and another was injured in a shooting at a Pine Hills barbershop Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2016, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The community held a vigil at the shop Thursday. (Jeff Allen, staff)

The unidentified gunman shot and killed Berry and wounded another man. Anderson said the deadly shooting took place around closing time.

“One thing about Brian, regardless of the fact, if it was difficulty or any time of struggle, he’s going to stand in the paint and do whatever he has to do to make a change," Anderson said.

Berry was one of several barbers who sued the Orange County Sheriff's Office in 2011 over raids targeting unlicensed barbers.

Friends said Berry never wavered in his belief that serving the Pine Hills community was his calling, something he reiterated during an interview five years ago.

“At the end of the day, our reputation is all we got," Berry said at the time.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating Wednesday's shooting.

Reginald Trammel, 36, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in stable condition. He is expected to be OK, deputies said.

This comes just a day after one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting on Westmoreland Drive, in the Parramore neighborhood.

Community leaders, including Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill, held a news conference Wednesday, calling for an end to the violence.

If you have any information about the recent shootings in the Parramore and Pine Hills neighborhoods, you can call CRIMELINE anonymously at 1-800-423-TIPS.