Doctor: Barber shot seven times in Pomona killing

POMONA -- A barber who was killed during an alleged robbery was shot seven times, suffering multiple wounds that by themselves would have been fatal, a medical examiner testified today.

And one of the wounds entered Larry Hammett's body from above his head, the doctor testified, indicating that the 46-year-old Ontario man may have been on the ground when he was shot at the Groom Time barbershop on Holt Avenue.

David Whiteman, who performed Hammett's autopsy, was one of only two witnesses to testify today during the Pomona Superior Court murder trial of two men accused of robbing and killing Hammett on July 27, 2008.

Alleged shooter Omari Ali, 21, and Keyon Rasheed Hill, 20, visited Groom Time to allegedly rob a large amount of marijuana from Hammett, who sold drugs out of the barbershop.

Prosecutors believe Hammett was shot because he resisted the men's robbery attempt. Ali and Hill could face life without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Whiteman testified today, the third day of testimony in the trial, that Hammett suffered gunshot wounds to his chest, back, right arm and right hand. Another bullet grazed his chest, the doctor testified.

Defense attorneys for Ali and Hill keyed in during their cross-examination on the doctor's finding that blood tests showed Hammett had marijuana in his system when he was killed.

After the doctor's brief testimony, the lead investigator from the Pomona Police Department took the witness stand and detailed the crime scene and other evidence recovered in the case.

Detective Andrew Bebon said Ali received a text message about a week after the shooting indicating that he may have been conducting a marijuana transaction.

The person who sent the message told Ali he could sell a "Q" for $140, Bebon said.

The detective, a narcotics officer for 16 years, said he believed "Q" meant either a "quarter-piece" of cocaine or a quarter-ounce of marijuana.

Prosecutors believe Ali and Hill took a large amount of marijuana from Hammett at Groom Time.
Bebon, who is likely the prosecution's final witness, is scheduled to retake the stand Thursday morning.