08/08/2026
In Loving Memory of My Brother in Christ, Tuan
It is with great sorrow that I even have to write these words.
First and foremost, my deepest condolences, love, and prayers go out to Tuan’s mother, father, brother, fiancée, aunt, uncle, his beloved son, and every family member, friend, and loved one who is now left carrying this unimaginable loss.
Tuan was not just a friend to me. He was my brother in Christ.
For several years, Tuan and I walked alongside one another through different seasons of life. I truly believe God brought our paths together for a reason. We shared the changes God was making within us, the struggles we had overcome, and the journey from our past into the light of a changed future.
Changes God made from the inside out.
I watched Tuan open his first barber shop with nothing but himself, his determination, and a willingness to grind. I watched him build his profession, his business, his reputation, and ultimately a legacy.
But more than anything, I watched him become the man and father he was so proud to be.
He spoke often about his son and the relationship they were building. He talked about the adventures they shared, the things they were still planning, and how important it was to him to be his son’s father first and his best friend second. He was genuinely proud of the father he had become and the father he continued to strive to be.
We also spoke often about marriage and how excited he was to become united with his fiancée under God. I watched his growth and development as a man, a future husband, a father, and a member of his community.
He built a brand and a business, Tuan the Barber, and surrounded himself with barbers who became more than employees or coworkers. They became brothers and an extended family. He mentored them in his profession, but he also shared his life experiences and encouraged people to make changes in their lives, with Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Through Christ, Tuan tried to spread love and kindness. He helped people. He gave back. He planned mission trips and shared those experiences with his son.
Those are the things I want people to remember.
I remember the time we spent together training his dog at the facility, hanging out, working out, talking about life, goals, faith, and everything in between. I remember eating wonton and spicy beef pho at his aunt’s shop. I remember the conversations where we would encourage one another, challenge one another, and remind each other of the goals we were working toward.
That's what brothers do.
We were even supposed to ride together that very week after he finally got his bike back after so many years.
I never imagined that conversation would become one of the things I would wish I could have back.
I also want to say something about the people who have chosen to speak with hatred, judgment, and disrespect about what happened.
Please stop.
You were not there. You did not live his life. You did not know his heart, his struggles, his growth, his relationship with God, or the man he had become.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, a life was lost.
A family is now grieving the loss of someone deeply rooted in their lives. His son has lost his father. His parents have lost their son. His fiancée has lost the man she planned to marry. His brothers, aunts, uncles, friends, and community have lost someone they loved.
And everyone involved in this tragedy deserves compassion while the truth is being understood and the families are given the opportunity to grieve.
It is shameful to throw stones and speak such hateful things while his loved ones have not even had the chance to properly lay Tuan to rest.
The Bible reminds us to examine ourselves before judging others.
We all live in glass houses.
Before casting a stone, perhaps we should all look in the mirror first.
It is easy to judge a person you never knew. But if it were your brother, your son, your father, your fiancé, or your best friend lying there, would you still speak those same words?
I will miss your heart, brother.
I will miss your face.
I will miss training with you.
Dallas and I will both greatly miss sitting in your chair at the barbershop.
I will miss the conversations, the laughs, the encouragement, the goals, the faith, and the life lessons we shared throughout the years.
We talked about getting your son into sparring with me for further training, and with the blessing of your family, if they choose to do so, I will honor that conversation.
My family will miss you brother.
It is difficult to understand the truth that this earthly life is temporary, especially when we spoke so often about spiritual battles, faith, and how much more there is beyond what our eyes can see.
We talked about giving thanks for every day because none of us is promised tomorrow.
Today, those words carry a weight I never expected to feel.
Tuan, I am praying for you.
I am praying for your son.
I am praying for your mother, your father, your fiancée, your brother, your family, your friends, your barber family, and everyone whose life you touched.
And I will continue to pray.
When I think I have prayed enough, I will pray harder.
May God surround your loved ones with strength when they have none left.
May He bring peace where there is pain, comfort where there is emptiness, and understanding where there are questions that may never have easy answers.
And may the legacy you built through your son, your family, your work, your friendships, your kindness, and your faith continue to live on.
Until we meet again, my brother.
May God hold you in His arms and keep you in the heavenly place that is home.
I love you, brother.
Rest in peace, Tuan.
🕊️🙏333 💜👌
