Police Search for Robbery, Murder Suspects

CLEVELAND — Ayed Kanan watched his clerk and friend, Duane Jacobs, 57, get shot and killed by robbers inside YaYa Market on the evening of September 25th.

“I just want them to be caught at soon as possible,” Kanan said.

Police have released photos of the suspected killers, captured from surveillance cameras inside the Union Ave. store.

Police hope someone will reveal their identities.

Kanan said while Jacobs was working in the back cooler, one man approached the counter and made a purchase, then asked for change for a five.

Then, the second man wearing the hat pulled out a gun, Kanan said.

Kanan said he grabbed his gun and they shot at each other.

“I fired at this one. He fired back on me,” Kanan said.

The gunman ran outside.

As Kanan was holding the first robber at gunpoint, the first gunman, or possibly a different one, burst back into the market and opened fire, shooting Jacobs, who had just ran to the front of the store, he said. He was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he later died.

Kanan believes there were at least three robbers, possibly four.

“Gotta be somebody with a car outside, has to be,” Kanan said.

Neighbors are upset that Jacobs was killed while trying to earn an honest living.

“Whoever did it. May God rest your soul. Justice will be served,” Kenny Walker said.

Kanan said he is going to re-name the market after Jacobs.

Anyone with information on who the suspects may be is asked to call Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit at (216) 623-5464.