Friends say he was gentle, generous soul, who strummed his guitar whenever and wherever he could.
In his younger days, John Lehman would take his music to the streets of Highland Square, playing his guitar and singing a song for residents to hear.
The music died late Saturday night, when Lehman, 28, was shot and killed outside the McDonald’s restaurant on West Market Street in Akron where he had worked since 2003.
His death has stunned friends and family, who are left to wonder why.
“God made a mistake this time,” said neighbor Laura Culver. “He was the son I wish I had. No trouble, no nothing like that. I guess God just loved him so much he wanted him to be by his side.”
Lehman lived alone inside an apartment complex on Crosby Street, just a short walk for his long, quick strides to the McDonald’s where he worked the third shift.
He was taking out the trash just before 11 p.m. when he was shot and killed. Police say the assailant is a black male in his 20s. He drove a dark-colored SUV, possibly a Ford Expedition or Cadillac Escalade.
Lehman took the McDonald’s job shortly after he graduated from Firestone High School. He used his money to purchase the five or six guitars he owned, along with the bass guitar he recently showed his neighbors.
Although he loved old-time hard rock music bands like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult, Lehman was a quiet neighbor who never bothered a soul, friends said Monday.
At times, he’d bring home french fries to share and take his guitar downstairs and play for his apartment complex neighbors, some of whom he considered his closest friends.
He was tall and thinly built, and school came tough to him. The combination sometimes made him a target of the street toughs who hang around Akron’s near-west side.
He lived for years on Crosby Street inside the apartment complex where the residents are close.
“He was an absolute sweetheart,” said neighbor Jessica Bodner. “I don’t understand how this could happen. None of us do here. We’ve been crying. We’re all upset. It’s just really hard on us.
“He got along with everybody. That’s what so hard to understand.”
“He good man., He good guy who never bothered anyone,” said neighbor James Grigsby. “We’re like family here. This is terrible. It’s horrible. It’s scary.”
Terry Zimmerman, 70, of Akron has known Lehman for about 20 years and was a foster father when Lehman was a teen.
“He was a good kid. He tried really hard. He was a bit backward, but he just wanted to help everybody,” Zimmerman said. “He helped all the people where he lived. I just can’t fathom why anybody would do this to him. He’s not the kind of kid to be in any kind of trouble with drugs or anything like that.”
Zimmerman said he and Lehman’s family, including his uncle, James Lehman, are struggling to understand a motive for killing such a soft man. Police say no suspect has been identified.
“The world is going to miss a kid who loved music,” Zimmerman said. “He knew more about music than just about anyone in the world ... He was a gentle man. He never took his fist and hit anyone.”
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Akron Police Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490, the U.S. Marshal’s Service at 1-866-492-6833, or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-2677. Callers can remain anonymous.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com. He can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PhilTrexler