Marvin Tolliver, 29, sat down for what most would expect to be a routine haircut — but walked no more. On Wednesday evening, inside the Fade District Barbershop off Greenwell Springs Road in Baton Rouge, gunfire erupted just after 6:30 p.m., transforming a space of community and conversation into a scene of tragedy.
Police say they were alerted to shots fired at about 6:33 p.m., and when officers entered the shop, they found Tolliver suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to stabilize him at the scene, he was pronounced dead there by the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office. (WBRZ)
Through the shattered front windows, bystanders and investigators later noted dozens of bullet holes — a brutal testament to how many rounds were discharged in the attack. (WBRZ) Police have confirmed the scene was full of evidence, but they’ve held back on motive or suspect information for the moment. (WBRZ)
One emerging angle, though unconfirmed by law enforcement, suggests the dispute may have originated over a tattoo. Local reporting (Unfiltered with Kiran) claims the argument began between a customer and a shop employee, escalated outside in the parking lot, and culminated in multiple gunshots that struck Tolliver dead. No arrest has been announced yet.
For the community, the shock is visceral. Friends and neighbors describe Marvin as affable, generous, and passionate about life. Many say he was in the shop not just as a client but as someone who was seen and known — a local, not a stranger. His sudden, violent end has left uncertainty, grief, and anger in equal measure.
Investigators from the Baton Rouge Police Department continue to piece together witness statements, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence. They have appealed to anyone who might know something—however small—to step forward, noting that even a scrap of detail could help crack the case.
Until then, Marvin Tolliver’s death stands as a grim reminder: gun violence can turn ordinary moments into heartbreak in a heartbeat.