Vigil grows as friends remember Jose Velez who was shot and killed in his Puyallup barbershop Wednesday

A candlelit vigil is growing outside JQ’s Barbershop in Puyallup to honor Jose Velez, the beloved 43-year-old barber who was tragically shot and killed Wednesday afternoon while cutting an 8-year-old boy’s hair (king5.com).

Friends, neighbors, and fellow business owners have gathered outside the shuttered shop, leaving flowers, photos, and heartfelt messages to remember Jose’s warmth and generosity (king5.com). Shelby McDonald, who works next door, described him as someone who “was super helpful when anything went wrong”—a sentiment echoed by many in the community (king5.com).

One of Jose’s former mentees, now 19-year-old Hasune Mawlood, shared how Jose transformed his life. At 16, Hasune struggled with grades and found a friend and mentor in Jose—who insisted on academic improvement before offering him a job at the shop. Now running his own barbershop in Tacoma, Hasune credits his success to that compassionate nudge: “He never gave up on me and I never gave up on him… he was like a big brother to me” (king5.com).

Puyallup police officials describe the shooting as a targeted attack, not indicative of a broader threat to public safety (king5.com, FOX 13 Seattle). The 8-year-old child and his mother suffered no physical harm, though the emotional impact is being taken seriously (FOX 13 Seattle, NBC New York).

As the vigil continues to grow, so too does the community’s resolve—to remember a man who was more than a barber: a father, husband, mentor, and friend. In this moment of grief, his compassion and spirit continue to inspire those he touched.