AKRON, Ohio — Summit County Crime Stoppers is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the shooter who killed a 34-year-old woman outside a Dollar Tree store in Akron earlier this month.
On July 3, the woman, Ernestine Stallings, had just left the store when she was shot and killed in the parking lot by an unknown person. Police responded to the store and administered first aid until EMS arrived and transported her to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
Her girlfriend, Tasha Love, said the two planned to get married. Love and Stallings had gone to Dollar Tree to buy balloons for a birthday party honoring Love's son, but moments after they left the store, shots were fired.
Stallings's mother, Annette, has been dealing with anguish since her daughter died two weeks ago.
"I just miss my baby so much; I miss her so much," Annette said. "I am picturing my baby laying down there, laying down there suffering, but I don't think she suffered too long though."
Detectives don't believe the crime was random, but they also haven't named any suspects.
"It appears very calculated, very intentional in that the person appeared to have known where she was, the method in which she was shot," said Lt. Michael Miller, Akron Police Department.
Stallings sister, Lessie, thinks that it could have been a case of mistaken identity that led to the shooting. She says her sister was kind and avoided confrontation.
"She's a good girl. No, I truly don't think she was targeted for any reason," she said. "How can you sleep at night knowing this is what you did to a person? You took a young lady away from their family."
Stallings, who worked as a FexEx driver, was remembered by her family as kindhearted and laid back. She enjoyed sports, fishing and had her own clothing line named Aduvvi.
Through her heartache, Annette is struggling to keep it together.
"So much worrying can make you ill, and that's what I'm trying not...I'm trying not to get sick," she said.
Annette urges anyone who may know something about her daughter's death to come forward.
"Somebody else knows this person that did it and why. That's what eats at you; know what I'm saying?" she said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at 330-375-2490 or call Crime Stoppers at 330-434-COPS.
RELATED: Family calls for justice after woman shot to death in store parking lot
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