The same suspect is responsible for the shooting death of a gas station attendant last month and for several robberies at other stations on Long Island recently, police said Tuesday.
Nassau County police say they think that one robber is responsible for nine gas station heists since December and for the killing of 56-year-old gas station attendant Hany Awad, an attendant who was found shot dead behind the counter at a BP in Jericho.
Awad, of Levittown, was found unresponsive by a customer at the gas station on Jan. 28. He had a gunshot wound to the torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say that in each of the robberies, the suspect dressed in all black, showed a handgun and demanded money.
All nine gas stations that were robbed were in Westbury, Hicksville and Jericho, police say.
Acting Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter is cautioning gas station customers and workers alike.
"We are very concerned with this pattern," he said. "This subject has demonstrated he is very violent or can be very violent."
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Before Sunday, gas station owner Andy Harris hadn't seen an armed robbery at his Jericho station in 30 years. But now he and other owners, attendants and customers across Nassau are on alert.
"I thought it was very brazen for someone to come in at 10:00 on a Sunday morning," he said of the robbery at his station.
"I would have some concerns," said customer Mike Thomas, who's gotten gas at some of the targeted stations. "You've gotta be on guard."
There have been no arrests.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
