The shooting death of a gas station attendant in Jericho on Wednesday is being investigated in connection with two armed robberies that took place earlier in the week in Thomaston and New Hyde Park, Nassau County Police said.
At a news conference on Thursday, Nassau police identified the gas station attendant as Hany Awad, 56, of Levittown. His body was discovered lying on the floor behind the counter of the BP gas station at 39 Jericho Turnpike with an apparent gunshot wound to the torso.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Nassau County ambulatory medical technicians around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night.
The incident is being investigated as a homicide, police said.
Police spokesman Kenneth Lack told reporters Thursday the incident may be tied to robberies that took place at BP stations in Thomaston and New Hyde Park during Monday’s snowstorm.
Police said the suspect robbed the BP station at 1301 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park around 5:45 p.m. and a second BP station at 655 Northern Boulevard in Thomaston about a half hour later.
Police described the suspect as a Hispanic male who is 5 feet, 7 inches in height and about 150 pounds and wearing dark clothes. His head and face were covered during the New Hyde Park robbery.
In both instances, the suspect allegedly entered the station armed with a black handgun and demanded cash from the attendant.
During the initial New Hyde Park robbery, police said the suspect fired a round into the counter before fleeing on foot northbound along Abraham Lane.
When he robbed the Thomaston station, police said the suspect fired a round into the wall.
An undetermined amount of cash was stolen from both gas station, police said. An investigation is ongoing.
Police have requested that anyone with information regarding the robberies contact the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. Calls will remain anonymous.
