Police are searching for a man who fatally shot an Ethiopian immigrant inside a 7-Eleven convenience store early this morning.
The victim called police at 3:30 a.m. and told them he was shot inside the store at 567 E. Louisiana Ave. The store clerk was in an alley near the store, said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman.
It is not known why he went outside, Jackson said.
Police have not released the name of the victim, but neighbors identified him as “Nathaniel.”
He was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center where he later was pronounced dead, Jackson said.
Police are searching for a white man, about 30, average height and weight, with shoulder-length, brown hair, Jackson said. He was wearing a green jacket and likely blue jeans.
Witnesses told police the gunman fled in a silver, four-door sedan, which looked to be about 5- to 8-years-old.
The killer used a rifle on the victim, police said.
“What his motive is, we don’t know,” Jackson said.
When asked whether anything was stolen from the store, Jackson said he would not comment on evidence.
The clerk, who was 27, had worked at the 7-Eleven store for five years, said Margaret Chabris, spokeswoman for 7-Eleven.
“Last night he worked alone, but I don’t know if he was alone in the store (at the time of the shooting),” Chabris said.
She said someone called police but she doesn’t know if it was a customer. She said other 7-Eleven clerks have been killed before, but not necessarily during the third shift between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“These are random acts of violence,” Chabris said. “We’ve heard of incidents of violence in broad daylight.”
She said the clerk was a loyal, hardworking, good employee.
“It sounds like something that was unprovoked,” Chabris said. “It devastates all of us.”
The clerk had been a manager of the store before under different ownership.
He has relatives locally and overseas, Chabris said. Police were having trouble reaching his mother, she said.
The store had camera surveillance equipment. Any tapes will be turned over to police for their investigation, Chabris said.
Yellow crime tape surrounded the store. After police left, employees entered the store and were cleaning. They carried blood-soaked rags out of the store.
Anyone with information on the shooting, or the suspect or suspect’s car, is asked to call police at 720 913-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 720 913-STOP (7867).
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
