Lamar Canady, a 32-year-old businessman and father of four, was tragically killed on May 9, 2014, in San Diego, California. Canady was the owner of the Official Cutz barbershop in Oak Park. On the day of his death, he was ambushed and shot multiple times as he stepped out of his barbershop. The attack was described as a carefully orchestrated hit, with Canady suffering at least 16 gunshot wounds, many of which were to his head.
The brutal nature of the crime shocked the local community and led to a significant outpouring of grief and calls for justice.
The investigation into Canady's murder revealed that the attack was a planned execution carried out by two men, Ian Guthrie and Peter Johnson, also known as Dion Chambers. Both men were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Guthrie, who acted as a lookout, and Johnson, who was the shooter, were linked to the crime through surveillance footage and DNA evidence. Johnson was found to have a prior murder conviction from Jamaica and had escaped from prison, while Guthrie had a previous manslaughter conviction from New York.
During the trial, it was revealed that the murder was ordered by a fellow Jamaican, Omar Grant, out of jealousy and revenge. Grant believed that Canady was involved with the same woman and was responsible for the theft of a large amount of marijuana. The court heard that Guthrie and Johnson were working for Grant when they carried out the hit on Canady. The jury found both men guilty, and they were subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Johnson received a 75-year-to-life sentence, while Guthrie was sentenced to 55 years to life.
The case highlighted the impact of Canady's death on his family and the community. Canady was remembered as an ambitious and well-loved individual who was trying to make a positive impact in his neighborhood. His death left a void in the lives of his loved ones, including his wife and children. The trial and subsequent convictions brought some measure of justice to his family, but the loss of Canady continued to be deeply felt by those who knew him.
