Maryland

Clerk Fatally Shot in Anne Arundel County Gas Station Robbery

Police are on the lookout for a man who killed a store clerk at a Maryland gas station early Thursday morning. 

Surveillance video shows a man entering the Exxon gas station at 7898 Ridge Road in Hanover shortly after 1 a.m. and confronting the clerk, Rajinder Kumar of Glen Burnie. 

Police say the video shows the gunman having trouble pulling the trigger of his gun a couple of times before he shot 49-year-old Kumar in the chest. He is then seen grabbing money from the counter.

"This appears to just be a stone-cold murder, and a killer out there," said Lt. T.J. Smith of the Anne Arundel County Police Department. "It doesn't appear that the clerk resisted or caused any type of situation...."

About 30 minutes later, a customer entered the business and found Kumar injured and unconscious. Police say Kumar died at the scene.

"He was a very nice guy, he was hard-working and he was a cool man," Kumar's co-worker Deep Bsandra said.

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A man who works at a 7-Eleven across the street told News4 he lived with Kumar in Glen Burnie. He said Kumar worked so he could send money to his wife and two children.

"His son was going to university and that cost a lot of money," Jagdeep Singh said.

Kumar was very popular with his regular customers, who said they can't believe he's gone.

"It's a shame. I really don't -- I can't believe it," said customer Larry Jones.

Outside the store Thursday morning, customers stood behind crime tape encircling the scene. Many spoke about Kumar's friendly personality and generous nature.

"Everybody loved him; everybody cared for him," said Angela Burley. "He was a nice, gentle, sweet type of person."

"If you were short [on money], he'll let you go and come back the next day and pay him," said Sha Lesaine.

Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect, which shows him wearing a hood with his face covered.

Police have not said how much money he got away with, or whether he fled on foot or by car. Police are looking for a possible witness who had driven a Range Rover to the gas station at the time of the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked is call Anne Arundel County Police Department Detective Jack Hartzell at 410-222-3460.

Stay with NBCWashington on-air and online for more on this developing story. 

EDITORIAL NOTE: Anne Arundel County Police initially said they were looking for a driver of a Jeep Cherokee who may have witnessed the incident. Late Thursdsay afternoon, they announced they're instead searching for the owner of a Range Rover. The driver of that vehicle has been located.

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