'Loved making folks beautiful': Wilmington hit and run victim remembered as passionate barber

The family of Ammad Brown said he was just coming into his own, a businessman with a passion for making others look good.

"He was starting to flourish in his own way, he was only beginning," said Nicholas Brown, Ammad's father. "He knew what he wanted to do and pursued it to its fullest."

Ammad Brown, 25, was killed in a hit and run Sunday. His family is pleading with the public for help finding the driver responsible.

Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Brown was hit by a dark colored 2014 Honda Civic LX driving north on Carolina Beach Road between Myrtle Grove and Carolina Beach, according to a N.C. State Highway Patrol release.

Brown was outside his vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder with a flat tire.

“It was truly devastating. We were truly heartbroken,” Nicholas Brown said. "We're holding on to knowing that at some point there's justice when they find the person or persons who left him on the side of the road to die."

The suspect vehicle would be missing its passenger side mirror and have significant damage to its front passenger-side bumper, passenger-side headlight and front passenger fender, according to Highway Patrol.

More:Pedestrian killed in a hit and run on Carolina Beach Road

Just last month, Brown opened his own barber shop — Maudy Fades — a dream he had since high school when he first started watching hair cutting videos on YouTube.

As he started his business, it was important for Ammad to give back, Nicholas said, so he gave free haircuts to homeless people and those who couldn't afford to pay.

As he started his business, it was important for Ammad to give back, Nicholas said, so he gave free haircuts to homeless people and those who couldn't afford to pay.

"He would take the same time and care that he would give a paying customer to someone who was less fortunate," he said.

Cutting hair was Ammad's passion, and he believed in the power of a haircut to change someone's entire day.

"You feel differently when you have a fresh haircut," Nicholas said. "That for him was his way of giving back and his way of helping someone else. He loved making folks beautiful and looking good when they got their hair cut."

Ammad loved helping out up-and-coming barbers, and had Youtube and Instagram accounts where he gave demos and tips to viewers. That's where Ammad met Freddy Thames Jr., an aspiring barber who soon became a close friend.

"He took me under his wing," Thames said. "He saw the same person he was a few years ago, working two jobs and struggling to get through barber school."

They shared a passion for their craft and its ability to make an impact on lives.

"It goes deeper than just cutting hair," Thames said. "That was important to him. Once someone's in your chair you can change their day."

Thames received the first-ever Ammad Brown scholarship, which his parents said will live on along with the barber shop. Maudy Fades will be closed for at least the next week while the barbers grieve.

"We're just asking the public that if anybody saw anything or heard anything at that time, no matter how big or how small, reach out to the state highway patrol and pass that information along,” Nicholas said.

Anyone with information for Highway Patrol is encouraged to call 910-395-3917 or dial *HP from your cell phone.

Reporter John Orona can be reached at 910-343-2327 or jorona@gannett.com.