Akron police investigate shooting death of clerk at South Arlington Street drive-thru business

A 21-year-old man is dead following a late-night shooting at a business on the 1300 block of South Arlington Street, according to a Summit County Medical Examiner's Office news release.

Akron police and EMS were dispatched to the scene at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. They found the victim, an employee at the store, with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m.

The shooting occurred after a man approached the drive-thru window on foot seeking to buy black and mild cigars, Akron police Capt. Michael Miller said.

He handed the clerk some cash that was in poor condition, possibly with soil or blood, Miller said. A dispute quickly broke out over the condition of the money. The suspect then pulled out a long-barreled rifle. That's when the clerk returned the cigar to the suspect and asked him to leave with it.

Before fleeing on foot, the suspect fired at least two shots through the window at the group of employees inside the drive-thru, striking the 21-year-old at least once. Shattered glass may have injured others standing nearby, Miller said.

"Words can't describe the senselessness of this tragedy and what this started over," he said.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Officer will identify the victim pending a positive identification and next-of-kin is notified.

Akron police were seen inside and outside the business early Wednesday morning as investigators scoured the scene for evidence, according to Mike Vielhaber of News 5 Cleveland, an Akron Beacon Journal news partner.

"We will do everything we can to bring this individual into custody," Miller said.

No further information was immediately available.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Border's Drive Thru clerk killed in shooting in Akron