"It was very sad. It was tragic."
A 67-year-old US Indian petrol station worker was killed during an armed robbery in Philadelphia.
The incident happened on January 17, 2023, in the city’s Tacony neighbourhood.
Police are searching for three men in connection with the murder.
Philadelphia police released surveillance video showing the three suspects. Investigators are hoping someone can identify the masked men by the clothing they were wearing.
The victim was identified as Patro Siboram, a worker at the Exxon petrol station on the 7100 block of Torresdale Avenue.
Police said the masked men entered the petrol station’s mini-mart and broke into a back area where Patro was working.
They attacked the 67-year-old and shot him once in the back before fleeing with a cash register.
Medics pronounced Patro dead minutes later.
Philadelphia Police Captain Jose Medina said:
“It was very sad. It was tragic. The member was unfortunately assassinated. He was well-liked by the community who knew kids on a one-on-one basis.”
Patro was originally from India and moved to the United States in 1988.
His career took him from the ballrooms of the DoubleTree Hotel in Philadelphia, a rental car service in Palmyra, New Jersey, a restaurant in Temple University, and finally petrol stations in Northeast Philadelphia.
According to reports, he had just returned from a trip overseas.
He leaves behind a wife and a son.
The manager of the Exxon petrol station said they will not be open overnight anymore. Security gates will be added and window service only will operate during certain hours.
The shooting was addressed during a community meeting at the Roosevelt Playground in Tacony on January 19.
Neighbours spoke fondly of Patro, saying he was helpful and knew his customers well. He was concerned about a rise in crime in the area, including carjackings and attempted break-ins at the gambling machines inside the store.
Calling Patro a “wonderful person”, one customer said:
“At the end of the day, he didn’t deserve to have his like taken… it was unnecessary.”
Captain Medina encourages more neighbours to come out to future meetings. The next one is scheduled for January 30.
He said: “My biggest message to the community is they can help themselves by helping us.
“We’re working on a daily basis to try and deter a lot of the crime that’s occurring.”
A $20,000 reward is offered for an arrest and conviction in every murder in Philadelphia.
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