Store clerk shot in West Toledo dies

WEST TOLEDO - The store clerk for the Lewis Carryout in West Toledo who was shot on Thursday, has died, Toledo police detectives said.

Bassam Kanouh, 46, was shot around 9:15 p.m. near the corner of Lewis Avenue and Dryden Drive.

Kanough was rushed to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center with a bandage over his abdomen covering what appeared to be a gunshot wound, witnesses told FOX Toledo News. Mr. Kanouh was awake and talking when emergency crews arrived, police officers told standers-by.

Police said they do not have any suspects.

A detective said there was no security camera video available.

Mr. Kanouh would have turned 47, Sunday. He leaves a wife and four children behind.

"God bless his family and may God be with them and I hope they catch the guy that did this," Christina Rehm said.

"It's scary knowing that somebody's still out on the loose and I hope to God that they can catch the guy that did this because he deserves everything," Darlene Meach added. "He deserves the death penalty as far as I'm concerned."

"For someone to do that for a little bit of money - they took somebody's life-that's not right," said Sandra Grohowski, who considered "Sam" as a friend.

While detectives try to track down his killer, the many neighbors, customers, and friends can only memorialize him with messages, the hat he always wore, and flowers outside of the carryout. His car still sits in the parking lot.

"I seen him at seven o'clock last night when I was here, and come this morning - last night - he's gone," Meach said. "It's just weird. It's hard."

"I was shocked, I couldn't believe it," added Rehm, who has frequented the carryout.

Over 200 family, friends and patrons paid their respects Friday evening to Mr. Kanouh with a candlelight vigil outside the convenience store, where he was gunned down 23 hours earlier.

The one thing people said over and over again was that Sam, as he was best known, would always help anyone who came through the store. Even if you were a little short on money, Sam would make sure you got what you needed.

"He was our friend," said Michelle Twardos. "We would walk into the store. He would have a conversation with us. He was giving to the kids, the neighbors, we all loved him. He was more than just a worker here. He loved us all. He cared about us. He just loves us."

Some in the crowd tonight wanted to make the point that this is their neighborhood, not a neighborhood belonging to criminals. They vowed to keep Sam's memory alive and not let this destroy their area.

A customer has set up a memorial fund for Sam to help offset burial costs. The customer told FOX Toledo News Friday evening that the victim did not have insurance. You can donate at any Fifth-Third Bank branch.

"Sam was the nicest guy around here. Everybody loved him," said Robert Marcinkowski, who is organizing Friday evening's vigil.

"If you didn't have enough change to buy what you need he would throw change from his pocket in there to help you out," said Shawn Gaines. "Just to know that somebody would do this, to him, is crazy."

If you have any information you are asked to contact Crimestoppers at (419) 255-1111. You can remain anonymous.

(FOX Toledo's Barrett Andrews, Kristi Leigh and Shaun Hegarty contributed to this report)