A Philly Homicide: Indian American Store Clerk Killed in Attempted Robbery at Philadelphia Mini Mart
- Siboram “Pat” Patro, 67, was killed early morning on Jan. 17, when three men broke into a back area where he was working, shot him and fled with a cash register.
An Indian American gas station employee was shot dead during an armed robbery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last week. Siboram “Pat” Patro was killed early morning on Jan. 17, when three men broke into a back area of the Exxon station where he was working, shot him and fled with a cash register, local news reports said, citing a surveillance video released by Philadelphia police.
Police told local news media that the masked men entered the gas station’s mini-mart and broke into a back area where Patro, the store’s clerk, was working. “Medics pronounced Patro dead minutes later,” an ABC News report said. “It was very sad, tragic” the report quoted Philadelphia Police Captain Jose Medina as saying. “The member was unfortunately assassinated. He was well-liked by the community who knew kids on a one-on-one basis.”
Patro, 67, is survived by Rashmi, his wife of 26 years, and his only son, Sachin.
In an interview with ABC News, neighbors said Patro knew his customers well and was helpful. Another said that “a wonderful person” like Patro “just didn’t deserve it.” A customer told the news channel that he was “concerned about a rise in crime in the area, including carjackings and attempted break-ins at the gambling machines inside the store.”
A Philly sports fan, Patro would “proudly” wear an Eagles hat or sports his 2008 Phillies World Series sweater.
Patro’s obituary on Flusher Funeral Home’s website describes him as “one of the most kindhearted and friendly people you could’ve ever met.” He “lit up any room with his energy and jokes. He always made “enormous sacrifices for his family, ensuring that no matter what was going on, they would always have food on the table and a roof over their heads.” Additionally, he took care of all his friends, and “reminded us all constantly, that life is too short to sit and watch it pass by us. He encouraged those around him to take ownership and live the life they want to live.”
Patro was born in a small town in Eastern India and immigrated to the United States in 1988. “He devoted 43 years to chasing this dream in a career that 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 gas stations in Northeast Philadelphia,” the obituary read. A Philly sports fan, he would “proudly” wear an Eagles hat or sports his 2008 Phillies World Series sweater.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported that Patro’s murder has prompted the manager of the Exxon gas station says to add security gates and also plans of implementing window service only during certain hours.