The owner of a Walnut Hills variety store on Lincoln Avenue was shot to death shortly after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

        Cincinnati police were looking for a short male black suspect.

        The victim was described by his business partner, Patrick Orikara, 32, of Nigeria, as a 26-year-old immigrant from Gambia whom he knew only as Abraham.

        Carlos Smith, 26, of Walnut Hills, said he and a group of friends, including the dead man's cousin, were standing across the street from the store when the attacker chased the owner into the store.

        “There was a bang and he came right back out,” said Mr. Smith, adding that the shooter ran east on Lincoln.

        He and his friends had been in the store a few minutes earlier to buy sodas.

        Mr. Orikara said he spoke to Abraham by phone about 3 p.m., who told him that a man was in the store demanding $50 that he claimed Mr. Orikara owed him.

        Mr. Orikara said he told Abraham to pay the man and he would drop by and reimburse him about 8 p.m. when he closed up his shop on McMillan Street.

        He said Abraham moved to Cincinnati five months ago from New York City, where he had relatives, and opened the Lincoln Avenue shop.

        He said Abraham was planning to go back to Gambia soon to get married and bring back his new wife. Before opening the shop, he sold clothes and CDs on the street.

        “He's a good guy. He don't owe nobody nothing. ... He works 12 hours a day,” Mr. Orikara said.

        To his friend's killer, he had this message: “Let him bring himself out. You can't just kill an innocent person and think you're going to get away with it.”

        MJ's Variety, which sells CDs, incense, snacks and other items, is three doors from the King of Clubs bar at the corner of Gilbert and Lincoln, where an execution- style murder occurred April 15.

        LaBrian Westmoreland, 20, was sitting at the bar when a man walked in and shot him multiple times.

        Saturday's shooting was Cincinnati's 27th homicide this year. That compares with 14 at this time last year, when 61 victims marked a 14-year high.

        Police ask that anyone with information call homicide at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

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