A woman who said she was unhappy with her haircut returned to a San Diego salon and tried shooting her barber, but the gun jammed and employees tackled the woman, police and the barber told NBC 7.
The incident happened Wednesday morning at the 619 Barber Shop on the 3900 block of 30th Street, where 29-year-old Adrian Blanche Swain went to get a trim.
Barber Manny Montero told NBC 7 she left happy, giving him a $20 tip on top of her $20 cut, but an hour later, Swain returned upset — and with a different haircut.
"She said, 'Look what you did to my hair,'" Montero said. "She came in with a bald spot on the side, and I am like, 'I didn't do that.'"
Disgruntled, the woman pulled out a gun and tried firing at Montero, police said. The gun was loaded but malfunctioned, clicking three times as Swain allegedly tried to fire off rounds.
Angry client returns to North Park barbershop, attempts to fire handgun three times #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/FzIKDVHDdy
— Dave Summers (@DaveSummersNBC7) February 10, 2016
"She had it. She was gonna do it," said Montero. "For some reason, God was there."
Chris Tatum, another barber who was watching the confrontation, told NBC 7 if the gun had worked, Swain could have shot three or four people in the shop.
Montero said he was more angry than scared.
"Grabbed her arm, grabbed the gun," he recalled. "We threw her to the floor and held her until authorities came."
Police arrested Swain, who was expected to face a charge of attempted murder. Information on an attorney for Swain was not immediately available.
After his brush with death, Montero left work early to see his young sons. Whatever brought Swain back to the shop, she is already forgiven, the mild-mannered barber said.
"Your whole life runs in front of your eyes, so that's what it did. That's what happened," said Montero.
The San Diego Police Department's Mid City Division is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call San Diego police or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
