Latest news with #LivingstonMarket
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
East, South Side residents remember slain Livingston Market owner as pillar of community
Jehad Alzaben, who was fatally shot May 25 in his Columbus convenience store, was described by one person who has known him for years as "a family man who took care of the neighborhood." "He blessed the neighborhood," said Keisha Bates, who owned a business next door to Alzaben in the Driving Park neighborhood and has known Alzaben since he came from Jordan decades ago. "You know how sometimes people don't have enough money to get something? (He would say) 'Don't worry about it.' Or if you needed milk for your baby and you didn't have it, 'Go ahead, take that can,'" Bates said. Dozens of people from the Driving Park neighborhood, other parts of the Near East Side and the South Side showed up May 26 for a candlelight vigil outside Alazaben's Livingston Market at 1619 E. Livingston Ave. near Seymour Avenue to memorialize him. According to Columbus police, officers responded around 11:45 p.m. on May 25 to Alzeban's market on reports of gunshots. When police arrived, they found Alzeban suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 12:30 a.m. on May 26. Bates said the vigil for Alzeban brought out "the whole South Side and most of the East Side." "And the people driving through were beeping their horns and stopping the car — stopping traffic," Bates said. "If you come from this area, you know Jehad from somewhere." Alzaben ran and owned the Livingston Market for 28 years. When Bates owned a hair salon next door to his store, she said they worked together to keep the block safe and free from drug dealing. "People used to think they were going to sell drugs and everything like that," Bates said. "Not here you weren't." She said the killing didn't make any sense to her. "It was very, very senseless, and they don't even realize what they did to our community," Bates said. "They really don't. He was such a good person." On Facebook, the Livingston Area Merchants Association said Alzaben was "a beloved Livingston Avenue business owner, neighbor, and friend." In addition to his random acts of kindness at his store, he also supported the community by donating to youth sports, National Night Out and local organizations. Columbus police homicide detectives continue to investigate the killing and to determine a motive. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus police Detective Brandt at (614) 645-4077, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@ or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Slain Livingston Market owner remembered by community for generosity
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Community mourns beloved shop owner, friend killed over weekend
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Livingston Avenue community is in mourning after a local business owner was shot and killed late Sunday night. People gathered outside Livingston Market Monday night to honor owner Jehad Alzaben. NBC4 was at the vigil for the 47-year-old, covering as police continue to search for a suspect in his death. Every single person said the same thing: Alzaben would do anything for anyone. People shared countless stories about how he would help those in need whether that be by giving them a job or giving them food and water. It's safe to say he will be missed dearly. 'He wasn't like a store owner. We don't look at Jehad like a store owner. We would come and see Jehad without spending money,' Randy Walker, a friend and former employee of Alzaben, said. Alzaben owned the Livingston Market at the corner of East Livingston and Fairwood for nearly 30 years. Those close to him described him as a big brother and a staple in the community. 'I've been knowing Jehad since I was 16 years old. It has been about 20 to 22 years now,' said Walker. ATV crash hospitalizes former OSU wide receiver, kills girlfriend Walker says there's nothing that Alzaben wouldn't do for the people he came in contact with, no matter how well he knew them. 'He gave people his money out of his own pockets. He fed the homeless like he was that man. He was him,' said Walker, 'We all know Jehad on a personal level. We all got our personal experiences with Jehad. So he wasn't just a store owner to this community. He was a brother, a father to a lot of people.' A store that used to bring the Livingston community so much joy is now filled with balloons and messages that read 'Rest Peacefully' and 'Long Live Jehad.' 'They really need to change this street to Jehad Ave. I ain't even had time to let it sink in, it's still mind blowing to me what happened. But it was unfortunate. Nobody should die doing business,' Walker said. Walker said they plan to meet outside the store on May 26 every year to celebrate Alzaben's life and legacy. Columbus police have not named any suspects or a possible motive as of publication, but the investigation continues. Police said they are investigating it as a homicide and ask anyone with information to call 614-645-4077, or report to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers anonymously at 614-461-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
