ELYRIA, Ohio -- Elyria police have a man in custody in connection with the slaying of a gas station clerk.

The clerk, 27-year-old Qiana Walton, was shot and killed as she was closing the store early Saturday morning.

Police said they arrested 27-year-old Vincent W. Jackson Jr. at about noon after a four-hour standoff.

Employees of the gas station are grieving the loss of a friend.

"She was never rude to nobody. It was not fair," said her co-worker.

Walton was shot and killed during the robbery at the Gas USA on Middle Avenue at about 12:30 a.m.

"Qiana was the most beautiful person in the world. There was nothing anybody could do to make her angry. She was just so pleasant and beautiful and we all miss her terribly," said Rosetta Lankey.

Police said another store employee identified the suspect from surveillance video tape. They found him at his sister's house on West Avenue, holed up with two children, 4 months and 4 years old.

"We learned he was in the attic with these two children. Our negotiators talked to him and he released the 4-year-old unharmed and not long after that gave himself up," said Lt. Andy Eichenlaub.

Both children were returned to their mother unharmed.

Police said Walton appeared to cooperate with her attacker, and gave him an undisclosed amount of money, but he shot her in the head and fled the store.

Police charged Jackson with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. He is being held at the Elyria City Jail without bond pending his arraignment in the Elyria Municipal Court on Monday.

Jackson was in the process of relocating to the area from Chicago.