Homicide Victim Was 'Like Family,' Barbershop Owner Says

Authorities said Creg Keith Johnson, 38, was killed Saturday night at The Line Up Barber Shop at

6376 Yadkin Road

. Johnson's keys were still in the barbershop door.

The shop closed at 5 p.m. Saturday, but Johnson stayed after hours to accommodate his customers, which family members said was a usual practice. Those who knew him said Johnson would often stay late at work and go in early depending on his clients' shifts.

"To lose somebody like that, it's hard," said the barbershop's owner, Lawrence Mason. "It's hard on everybody."

Mason spent the day cleaning the barbershop's floor. He plans to reopen soon, but took a day off to remember Johnson.

"Not only was he a co-worker, he was like a brother because it was like a family in here," Mason said. "It was like a family."

Johnson is survived by his girlfriend and 10-year-old son.

Authorities have not said whether they had any suspects in Johnson's death or what a motive might have been. Fayetteville investigators urge anyone with information about the case to contact the Fayetteville Police Department at

(910) 433-1830

.