He'd worked there only a week.

Daud Osman, a 38-year-old father of five, was shot on the job at a North Side African restaurant Thursday night as he and two patrons were robbed about 10:10 p.m.

Osman was taken to Ohio State University Medical Center, where he died at 11:44 p.m. The patrons, both cabdrivers who had stopped in to eat at the Iftin Restaurant, 4191 Cleveland Ave., were unhurt.

They told police that three robbers stormed in, yelling and demanding money. Osman had been in the back. He heard the commotion and came out with a knife, apparently not realizing the men had guns, the cabdrivers said. He was shot as he confronted them.

Police said the robbers stole a little more than $200.

They wore masks, and the cabdrivers could provide only vague descriptions of them.

Osman, who came to the United States from Somalia, was married with five children, the youngest 5 months old. Relatives who gathered at his home yesterday said it was too soon to comment.

Friends said Osman was a hard-working member of the local Somali community who delivered vegetables to area restaurants before taking the job as a cook at Iftin Restaurant.

"He was very pleasant and kind," said Abdul Sey, who works at a computer store next door that is owned by the same man who owns the restaurant. "We all work together. We're in shock."

If a diner came in after hours, "He will stay overtime to cook for you, he was that kind of guy," said Omar Abdulle, a restaurant patron.

"He was dedicated, hardworking," said Aidarus Botan. "The city of Columbus, they've got to bring (the robbers) to justice."

The third business in the small plaza is the Quick & Easy Mart. Manager Zafar Mehdi understands the grief being felt by the Somali community over what had happened two doors down.

In December 2000, Mehdi was working in the market with Abdul Hemeed when robbers beat Mehdi in the head and fatally shot Hemeed.

Mehdi remains baffled by the killers' callousness.

"We work hard every day," said the father of six. "If you take money, why take somebody's life?"

Iftin Restaurant remained closed yesterday out of respect for Osman and his family, Sey said. Inside, a chair was overturned by the door. On one table, two bananas and a small salad sat uneaten.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch