2 Gas Station Workers Slain During Failed Armed Robbery

[Lucky45]

$12,000 reward is offered in the fatal shootings during an attempted robbery at a BP station in Lake Alfred.
By Eva Kis
The Ledger
eva.kis@theledger.com

LAKE ALFRED, FL | Authorities are offering a $12,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the fatal shooting of two gas station employees during an attempted robbery in Lake Alfred on Friday night.
Sheriff Seeks Info on Vehicles at Slaying Site Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said his agency is counting on the community's help to catch the gunman who killed Pravinkumar Chimanbha Patel, 33, and Dashrath Patel, thought to be 52. The Sheriff's Office contributed $10,000 to the reward for information, which can be given anonymously, and the tipster will not be required to testify. The other $2,000 is from a federal grant.
"Quite frankly, we've got to have a break in this case, and we will make it worth the people's time," he said. "All we need is a phone call."
The victims were changing the sign displaying the price of gas after the BP station at 6000 County Road 557 closed for the day about 9 p.m. when a gunman dressed in dark clothing approached the station's convenience store from the direction of Interstate 4 and rattled the locked front door.
Store owner Prakashkumar Patel, 34, of Lakeland told the gunman several times that the store was closed, Judd said. Surveillance video shows the gunman then pulled a handgun from the waistband of his pants and fired through one of the store's windows.
Prakashkumar Patel ducked behind the counter to trip the store's alarm, then retreated into a back room to dial for help.
Meanwhile, the gunman turned his attention to the two men outside by the gas price marquee. A security camera captured his approach, with Pravinkumar Patel raising his arms in the air as the gunman got closer.
Judd said what followed was nothing short of a "summary execution."
"[The gunman] ran up and head-shot both of the clerks, killing them at the scene," he said.
"He made no effort to rob the two people that he shot and killed," he added, noting that the men's clothing was not rifled through, their pockets not turned out.
The gunman then ran back to the front door of the store and shook the handle again but, unable to get inside, fled soon afterward.
Prakashkumar Patel was not injured during the attempted robbery.
Little is known about the victims. Pravinkumar Patel came from New Jersey just two days before he was gunned down; Dashrath Patel had been in Polk County about 10 months and lived at 202 Ronaldale St. in Haines City. Both men have families in India, according to PCSO spokeswoman Donna Wood.
None of the men are related.
The gas station was locked during business hours Saturday morning. Messages left at the homes of Dashrath Patel and Prakashkumar Patel were not returned.
The gunman is described as a black male between 6 feet and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, with a thin to medium build. The night of the robbery he was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt or jacket, dark-colored pants, a ski hat and a face covering. Calling the gunman "very dangerous," Judd said he likely bragged about planning the robbery, then committing the crime.
Though the gunman is seen running from the gas station on the surveillance footage, the remote location of the store means a getaway vehicle was likely used, Judd said. He emphasized that the community's help is essential to solving this case.
"He's armed with a handgun; he will rob and has the potential to kill, again," Judd said.
Anyone with information about the gunman is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at 863-533-0344 or Detective Ivan Navarro of the Homicide Unit at 863-287-8313. To remain anonymous, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS. Tipsters are eligible for the reward through all three phone numbers.
[ Eva Kis can be reached at eva.kis@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. ]

Was just wondering what is your mindset for whenever you are at the scene of a robbery? For one, those guys on the outside did not take off running for some reason after the suspect shot the door. But who knows the reason why? They paid dearly for that decision. I know that complying for me is only until I can draw my handgun. That is my mindset.

[Lykoi]

I'm not sure about most of you, but other than situations where i'm completely outnumbered/outgunned, i'm not about to risk some homocidal freak occurance where my wallet isn't enough... compliance should be used to get the advantage... when that happens he should be sucking air through new a new .40 diameter ventilation hole.

[WarHawk-AVG]

P.S. If you see the name Patel...its just a surname

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patel

It means landlord or innkeeper...you see that alot at motels

It wasn't a robbery...someone was out for blood

[seamusTX]

P.S. If you see the name Patel...

Patel is a very common Pakistani surname, and some people with that name are involved in organized crime: http://www.google.com/search?q=patel+%2 ... d+crime%22

- Jim

[Mike1951]

Patel is a very common Pakistani surname, and some people with that name are involved in organized crime:

Gee, all the ones I know are doctors. Oh wait, that's what you said.