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A word of advice, if you’re planning any trips to South Carolina, get your shape-up and fades beforehand. Arthur Hill, 37, found out that out the hard way when he moved to the Palmetto State from New York and entered Larry Thomas’s barbershop hoping to get some service and instead a got gun pointed at him.

After requesting a simple shave, Thomas  reportedly told Hill “I don’t cut Black hair.”

When Mr. Hill asked what he meant by that the 65-year-old barber replied by pulling out .38 Snubnose Special.

Reports WFMYNews2: 

 

Hill says he asked Thomas to clarify why he couldn’t get a cut.  

“I  said, ‘Are you referring to African American hair?’ He said, ‘Yeah,’ and at the time I noticed he already had his hand gripped on a .38 snub nose chrome revolver.”

Hill says he told Thomas he didn’t want any trouble and left, but he contacted the York County Sheriff’s Office.

“I was shocked, I was shocked for my life, because I’m thinking that could’ve been me laying on the floor dead,” he said. “He did not point it at me, but it was  clear in sight like he meant business.”

Thomas was back in his shop Wednesday evening after spending the night in jail. He admits telling Hill that he doesn’t do black hair, because he says he doesn’t know how.

“I’ve had black people come in the door before and I tell them I don’t cut black hair,” he declared…

“I felt threatened,” he said.

But this isn’t the first time a racial incident had occurred in Thomas’s barbershop.

A former customer says his behavior has been so offensive, her family stopped supporting his shop. 

Victoria Erwin says she referred a black friend to Thomas. 

“He walked in and he didn’t even have one foot in the door and this man did say, ‘I don’t do black people’s hair,’ and they were very shocked.”

While this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as South Caroline only last year lowered the much reviled and racist Confederate battle flag at the State House, it still speaks volumes of just how deep racial bias and hatred is embedded in many members of today’s society.

Thomas is currently facing charges for pointing and presenting firearms to a person.

Photo: screen cap