Community comes together for family of child shot, killed

SALISBURY, N.C. — A Salisbury barber shop has raised hundreds of dollars for the family of a child shot and killed.

A’yanna Allen, 7, and her grandmother were sleeping when an unidentified suspect peppered their home with bullets early Sunday. A’yanna was killed. No arrests have been made.

On Tuesday, the owner of Made Man Barber and Shave kept his doors open after hours and offered haircuts to people in the community. All proceeds and donations made will be given to A’yanna’s family.

“A child shot in her grandmother’s bed. That shouldn’t happen in this country, let alone my hometown,” Brian Hunt, owner of Made Man Barber and Shave, said. “That should be the absolute safest place in the world. That grandmother’s arms. There shouldn’t be anywhere safer than that.”

A former teacher of A’yanna shared a video with Channel 9. It shows the 7-year-old dancing and singing while in school one day – a reflection of the bubbly personality described by so many people in the community, including her family.

“A’yanna lit up the whole world,” Shirley Robinson, A’yanna’s paternal grandmother, said.

Early Tuesday, A’yanna’s family pleaded to those responsible to come forward, following a press conference at the Salisbury Police Department.

It was there officials announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for A’yanna’s death.

Investigators also for the first time announced they believe A’yanna’s homicide may be connected to another homicide that happened hours beforehand although officials wouldn’t say how.

“We have a strong indication that these murders that occurred over the weekend were related,” Salisbury Police Department Chief Jerry Stokes said.

“This is Salisbury’s problem,” Hunt said. “Everyone is still kind of in shock. There was a child murdered in our town. No one should go through that.”

As of Tuesday evening, Hunt said between proceeds from haircuts and donations from the community, his business has been able to raise more than $3,100.

The barber shop will continue to collect donations through Saturday.

A'yanna's funeral will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church at 719 S. Caldwell St. in Salisbury.

Visitation will be held prior to the funeral at 2 p.m.

Cox Media Group