Displaying items by tag: Zak Husein

A name now for the man Akron police shot and killed 21-year old Zak Husein during a pizza store robbery 18 months ago.

23-year old Shaquille Anderson of Lake Street faces aggravated murder, robbery and felony assault; those unrelated convictions include eight aggravated aggravated robbery counts from Akron and Barberton which earned him a three year term along with 18 years on a gun specification that would keep him behind bars until 2037.

Akron police said during a news conference Anderson caused the death of Husein with the help of an "unknown accomplice" who helped case the business before the robbery. Husein was shot and killed after handing over the money demanded in the robbery on December 8, 2016 at his family-owned Premium New York Style Pizza restaurant. Husein's brother Ammar was a witness to the shooting. The killer was wearing a Ninja-style outfit that covered his face.

In reaction to the news, Zac Hussein's brother, Amar, reflected on his brother's life, and the effect his story has had on others. "He was just another kid from Akron," but yet, "People who have never met him, were moved by all of this. It just goes to show you man, you don't have to be in the world's eye to help people. You don't have to accomplish great things, to accomplish great things," he said.

As an example, he pointed to food drives here in Akron where volunteers joined together in Zac's name, for charity, and against violence. "We packaged over 90 thousand meals in less than a year and a half, and fed 90 thousand children worldwide in his name."

As to how he feels about the man who is alleged to have killed his brother, Amar called him a coward, "It doesn't take a lot of strength to pull a trigger...what takes a lot of strength is to do what I do--get up every morning, eight, nine o'clock...sometimes you do get tired. It hurts. It hurts to get out of bed every day, and work all day. But you know what? It hurts worse to be behind bars."

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(Akron Police Department) The Akron Police Department made an arrest in the December 7, 2015 robbery and shooting death of Zakeria "Zak" Hussein while he worked at his family's business, Premium New York Style Pizza, located at 380 East Glenwood Avenue.

Detectives charged  Shaquille Anderson, 23, of Lake Street in Akron with aggravated robbery, aggravated murder and felonious assault. While investigating a string of robberies with a gun in the Akron area, detectives received multiple tips. After following up on every tip, detectives were able to identify Shaquille Anderson as
the suspect involved in the homicide of Zak Hussein. Shaquille Anderson is currently incarcerated in the Mansfield Correctional Institution on unrelated charges. 

On December 7, 2016, Anderson pled guilty in Summit County Common Pleas Court to eight counts of aggravated robbery, six of the counts had gun specifications. He was sentenced to 21 years by Judge Joy Oldfield.

Akron police are expected to announce the name of the man they think shot and killed 21-year old Zak Husein a year and a half ago. They've called a news conference for 10:30 on the steps of the Stubbs Justice Center.

It's been a nightmare of not knowing for Ammar Husein, Zak's brother, talking with Channel 3 News.

The younger Husein, an international business studies student at the University of Akron, was gunned down after handing the gun-toting thief cash from the drawer of his family's pizza restaurant in December 2015.

Several reports say the suspect is currently doing time in prison on other charges and the shooter could be behind several other robberies.

Hundreds of students, family, friends, and faculty came together at the University of Akron to honor one of their own -- the best way they know possible. 

Helping others in need.

It was a packed ballroom in the third floor of the student union for a charity event to package 40,000 meals for those in need in honor of Zak Husein who was killed during a robbery at his family's pizza shop last December.

"Today is not a day to weep, it's a day to celebrate Zak and his legacy," said UA President Scott Scarborough. "Today is Zak's triumph."

The volunteers gathered to package the meals through the Stop Hunger Now program after collecting more than $10,000 in donations.

"I've never seen so much energy, passion and support of one person in my life," said Shaun Starkey, assistant program manager for Stop Hunger Now. "People are shoulder to shoulder, united for the life of this one individual. It's pretty phenomenal."

Zak's brother, Ammar, was among those in attendance to honor His late brother's life and leave a lasting impact on the community and beyond.

"I can tell you Zak's characteristics, his mentality, his hospitality, his actions, they're not by accident," said Ammar.

Hundreds at @uakron to package 40,000 meals for those in need to honor UA student Zak Husein. pic.twitter.com/BH0gkVD9S0

— Amani Abraham (@AmaniAbraham) April 19, 2016

Akron City Councilman Jeff Fusco presented Ammar with a proclamation to honor Zak's life and legacy he left behind.

Previous Coverage: 

Charity Event To Honor Zak Husein

Police Still Searching For Husein's Killer

Zak Husein: A Life By Example

UPDATE VIDEO 21-Year-Old Shot, Killed In Akron

Family, friends, and even strangers are preparing for the upcoming charity event to honor University of Akron student Zak Husein who was killed last December in a pizza shop robbery. Student organizer Justin Cohen is teaming up with StopHungerNow to package food for those in need in honor of Husein.

The event is on April 19th -- but they're still in need of donations to make the event happen. More than $7,000 in donations have been collected, but the goal is set at $14,500 in order to package 50,000 meals for those in need.

Click here for more information on the upcoming charity event.

Previous Coverage: 

Police Still Searching For Husein's Killer

Zak Husein: A Life By Example

UPDATE VIDEO 21-Year-Old Shot, Killed In Akron

It's been more than two months since a 21-year-old University of Akron student was shot and killed during a pizza shop robbery in early December. But despite having more than $50,000 in reward money on the table, police haven't had a solid lead to track down Zak Husein's killer.

"Usually the money is enticing to someone who has the information, but in this case it hasn't really brought us the lead that we need," said Capt. Dan Zampelli.

Husein's family offered a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Husein's killer -- in addition to several thousand dollars offered by Summit County Crimestoppers.

"There's always that one bit of information that will get us in the right direction. We believe it's solvable, it's just a matter of finding that right piece of information that takes us on that right road."

Husein was shot even after handing over the money without incident during a robbery at his brother's Premium New York Pizza store. It was captured on surveillance video, but the masked robber couldn't be identified.

Previous Coverage: 

Zak Husein: A Life By Example

VIDEO 21-Year-Old Shot, Killed In Akron