Cleveland Heights police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect they said is responsible for the death of a 15-year-old boy.
Sunny Patel, of Highland Heights, was shot and killed Friday around 8 p.m. when an armed robber barged into the Mr. Hero restaurant on South Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights.
Police said the man, about 5'10" to 6", shot Patel once in the head, demanded money and took off.
Patel was taken to University Hospitals where he died around 11 p.m., according to the family.
"I miss my child," Ravi Patel, Patel's father, said through tears.
Surveillance photos from the incident show the suspect wearing gray sweatpants with a white stripe down the side, a black Nike sweatshirt and a white bandana on his face.
Ravi told News 5's Meg Shaw Patel wasn't an employee of the store. The teen's aunt and uncle own the restaurant and said he was just helping out for the evening.
"He liked to go there," Ravi said. "Just give him peace and good life."
Ravi said his only son was truly a good kid.
"Every night when I came home, he would ask me one question: 'Dad, how was your day and how was business?'"
The teen's father said he forgives the man responsible for his son's death.
"God bless him... Just think before [you do] what you want to do," he said.
Patel was a sophomore at Mayfield Heights High School. The school released this statement on their Facebook page about his death.
Mayfield Heights High School Principal Jeffrey Legan also tweeted about the tragedy.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Patel family. Sunny was an amazing young man who epitomized what it means to be a wildcat.
— Mr. Legan (@WildcatMHS) October 15, 2016
A funeral service will be held for Patel on Monday, October 17 from 12-4 p.m. at the Busch Funeral Home in Parma.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of $5,000 to anyone who has information leading to the man who police say is responsible for the shooting. Patel's family told News 5 that they would match the amount.
