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Indianapolis, Feb. 18 - Witnesses say two men exchanged words with 62-year-old Willie Wardlow, then shot the man twice.
He was the owner of Elite Images Salon at 52nd Street and Emerson Avenue.
About six employees and customers, including Wardlow's wife, were inside the business at the time of the murder.
Wardlow founded the Black Drag Racers Association and once ran a nightclub and promoted bands.
"Kind of like me, a grown up kid," is how friend Tony Edwards describes the victim. "He liked his toys, had his passions about life and I guess that's one of the things you could appreciate about him."
Police say the motive for the shooting is unclear. They are releasing more suspect information.
They are looking for four black men who allegedly left the scene in a green or teal colored newer model vehicle.
One of the suspects is 25 to 30-years-old, about five-foot, six inches with a medium complexion. He was wearing a bulky, dark colored jacket.
Another suspect is also 25 to 30-years-old, about five-foot ten with a dark complexion. He was seen wearing a dark blue jogging suit with tennis shoes.
It was a murder in broad daylight on the city's northeast side.
Loved ones consoled each other, friends and patrons stopped by unable to believe what happened Tuesday.
Earl Walters says, "He's just a friendly guy, everybody in here knows him."
John Horton calls the victim "a good man, it's unreal."
Indianapolis Police Lt. Paul Ciesielski says, "Nothing was taken, words were exchanged."
"It was two black guys, I seen them." A witness who did not want to be identified, thinks she saw the gunman moments before the shooting. "They came in and asked me for some change, I said no. Then next thing I knew, I heard gunshots, then I saw them running."
Wardlow was nicknamed Mr. T, friends say, because he wore a lot of gold.
It was Wardlow who organized the Soul National at Raceway Park in 2001 "To get the youth involved and let them know that this is a sport you can make a living in."
John Horton was his mechanic and crew chief. "The difference between black and white, it doesn't matter. I thought of him as a father to me."
If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 262-TIPS.
