Father-to-Be Slain in Street Confrontation

A 23-year-old barber was shot to death in the street Wednesday after an argument with someone in a car, police said.

Dante Johnson was walking with friends across Jackson Street about 2:45 p.m. when young men in a car confronted them, police said.

An argument ensued, and someone in the car pulled out 9-millimeter handgun and fatally shot the young father-to-be, police said.

He was pronounced dead at Columbia West Anaheim Medical Center.

Police have no suspects, and details of the shooting are sketchy.

“We will be going back to talk to people and we will be canvassing the area,” Lt. Tony Kelly said.

Kelly said police do not think the shooting was gang-related.

Shane Teson, 17, said he heard three pops around 3 p.m., looked over his fence and saw Johnson on the ground. Teson said he ran to Johnson and checked his pulse. Then he shouted to his mother to call police.

“I was like, ‘Oh Jesus!’ ” said Teson. “It was mass hysteria after that.”

Friends said that Johnson had been visiting a house on the street and that he used to live in the neighborhood.

His girlfriend, they said, is expecting their child in two weeks.

Only last week, co-workers threw a surprise “daddy shower” for Johnson, giving him baby clothes, a bathtub and other gifts.

Johnson was a barber at a shop named Hair It Is on Western Avenue, only a few blocks from where he died.

On Wednesday afternoon, his co-workers sat silently, unable to digest the news. Today they will close shop early.

“He was lovely,” said owner Julie Johnson. “He was happy and cheerful. He was so excited about becoming a father.”