As the victim recovers, the incident has left many residents shaken, particularly in an area where access to food and basic resources is already limited.
CLEVELAND — A Cleveland community is demanding justice and calling for change after a woman was shot while working at a Save A Lot grocery store on the city’s east side.
The shooting happened Sunday morning at the store on Superior Avenue near Lakeview Road, with police saying someone entered the store and opened fire. The woman survived and is currently recovering.
The incident has left many residents shaken, particularly in an area where access to food and basic resources is already limited.
“This was egregious on two areas,” said Alfred Porter Jr., ambassador for Black on Black Crime Inc. “It almost killed a young lady who is fighting for her life, that’s No. 1. And No. 2, we can’t afford to lose a shopping place in our community.”
As of Friday, no arrests have been made. Black on Black Crime Inc. is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
“Crimes like this will affect our community because stores will leave out of our community,” Porter said, expressing concern that violence could drive essential businesses away from neighborhoods that depend on them.
The Save A Lot is one of the few grocery stores in the area.
“People shop here, and they need it,” said Cleveland City Council Member Kevin Conwell, who represents Ward 9.
The suspect is described as a male who was wearing a gray hoodie, black mask, jeans, and light-colored tennis shoes at the time of the shooting. He was reportedly carrying a light-colored book bag and armed with a pistol.
“If we have to go walk the neighborhood and put flyers out to let people know this guy is the one that did it (then we will),” Conwell added. “That person should turn himself in.”
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Cleveland police at 216-623-2599.
