Police identify man killed during armed robbery of Warner Robins gas station

Police have identified a man killed in an armed robbery Sunday afternoon at the Express Shop as 49-year-old Navaneetbhai Patel.

Around 5:30 p.m., Warner Robins police officers responded to an armed robbery at the 700 Russell Parkway store and found Patel suffering from a gunshot wound.

Officers had him transported to Houston Medical Center where he later died, according to a WRPD release.

The suspect was seen running away behind the Citgo gas station and was described as a medium-height man wearing dark clothing, according to the release.

The incident occurred while several customers and an employee were in the store, the report said.

Officials originally identified Patel as an employee but later determined he was the husband of an employee, according to a news release Monday afternoon.

This is the fourth homicide of 2019 in Warner Robins.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab.

Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Justin Clark or Detective Chad Pierce at (478) 302-5380 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

This story has been updated with more information from police about Navaneetbhai Patel’s identity.

This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 11:16 AM.