Dallas Police now investigating Hair World Salon shooting as a possible hate crime
Photo: Raul Rodriguez for NBC News
On May 11, a shooter shot and injured three Korean women at a Korean-owned hair salon in Dallas, TX. At the time, authorities said there was no evidence or indication that the shooting was hate crime related. Now, Dallas Police Chief Eddie García says the salon shooting could be a hate crime.
"This could be hate motivated. We need to, as in any other instance where we feel any part of our community is being attacked for a reason of hate, we are going to take an abundance of caution. Hate has no place here. The minute we see that, we are going to do what we need to do," said García.
Speaking to NBC News, Salon owner Chang Hye Jin, 44, said she thought from the start that the shooting was a hate crime. "It especially feels targeted because he didn’t even demand money," she said. "He just came in to shoot people.” Chang was among those injured by gunfire.
The interior of Hair World Salon after the shooter shot three Korean women. Photo: Jamie Stengle / AP.
Reports also indicate that the salon shooting suspect may be linked to two other recent shootings. The first occurred on April 2 and the other on May 10. All targeted businesses were Asian-owned.
Police say the suspect in the salon shooting matches the description of the suspect and getaway car in the April 2 and May 10 shootings.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have reached out to our partners to make them aware of the possible connection and ask for their assistance,” Garcia said. “This includes the FBI and member agencies of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. We are also working with North Texas police partners to determine if this criminal action has or is taking place in their jurisdictions.”
In a statement made on Friday, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said, “The possibility that we are dealing with a violent gunman who is motivated by hate is chilling and deeply disturbing.”
“And I want our Asian American community – which has appallingly faced increased vitriol in recent years – to know that the city of Dallas and the people of Dallas stand with them,” he added.
Police are searching for a suspect described as a Black male, 5’7” to 5’10” with a thin build, curly hair, and a beard. Anyone with information should contact Detective T. Johnston at 214.671.3523 or timothy.johnston@dallascityhall.com.
“I want our city’s Asian American community — which has appallingly faced increasing vitriol in recent years — to know that the City of Dallas and the people of Dallas stand with them,” the mayor said. https://t.co/Y2t4Nu43u9
— Mayor Eric Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) May 14, 2022
Update on the Royal Lane Shooting: On the initial call @DallasPD
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) May 14, 2022
had no indication the crime was hate-motivated. During the course of the investigation, our team concluded three recent shootings at Asian-run businesses with the driver in each driving a similar vehicle.
