Crime & Justice

Julius Sampson Jr: North Carolina father of three killed in random act of violence

Winston-Salem, North Carolina is reeling after the murder of a beloved barber and father of three in what authorities are saying was a random act of violence.

Published

5 years ago

August 10, 2019

Unheard Voices Staff

Julius Sampson Jr.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina is reeling after the murder of Julius Sampson Jr, a beloved barber and father of three, in what authorities are calling a random act of violence.

Police say 22-year-old, Robert Granato shot and killed 32-year-old, Julius Sampson Jr after an argument broke out between them inside BJs Restaurant and Brew House. It continued into the parking lot near Hanes Mall Tuesday, where witnesses said Granato was waiting with a gun.

Police said Sampson was defending a waitress who was being harassed by Granato who police believe was intoxicated and being belligerent.

At a vigil for Sampson, family and friends remembered the man often called “Juice” as a newlywed and a father of three who wanted to make his community better.

People who knew Julius Sampson Jr say they were not surprised he was helping someone else out because that’s who he was.

“A great individual, a great father, a great husband, a great friend and a great barber,” Latonya Moore who knew Sampson from when he was a student at the Winston-Salem Barber School, said to WFMY2 News.

“A lot of people are going to be touched by his life, were touched by his life… his customers. He was a coach for a little league football team, he mentored a lot of people and he was a hero to a lot of people,” she said.

Julius’ wife, Keyia Sampson, said her husband died a hero.

“You took a hero away from us, and now we are out here to fend for ourselves,” Keyia said to WXII 12 News.

“Hearts are hurting. Souls are hurting. The world is hurting. The message that we are sending just has to stop.”

Keyia said her strength to move forward will come from her daughter and God.

“Knowing that my husband and I had these conversations that God would never leave us or forsake us is what will keep me going, said Keyia. “When we took our vows, we were determined that we are in this fight together.”

Authorities say the fatal shooting was random and doesn’t indicate it was racially motivated, but The North Carolina NAACP is calling on Winston-Salem police to conduct a full investigation.

The Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, the president of the state NAACP, said his organization will remain vigilant in making sure all angles of this shooting are investigated.

“We are always concerned that there might not be (a full investigation) because it’s not always that our voices are heard,” Spearman said at a news conference, which also included local and regional NAACP officials.

“So we always run the risk of that occurring, and then there are occasions that the expectation is that the African American community may not say anything and investigations do not happen to be launched,” Spearman said.

“So we’re here to put folk on call that we’re making demands, and we’re going to stand behind those demands we make.”

After news of Julius Sampson Jr murder emerged, it quickly took off on social media with the hashtag #JusticeForJuice

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Unheard Voices Staff

Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to broadening into a recognized Black online media outlet. The company is one of the few outlets dedicated to covering social justice issues. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.