CHESTERFIELD, Va. -- Chesterfield investigators are hard at work to track down the suspects who they said are connected to the murder of a beloved store clerk.
Harshad Patel
Harshard Patel, age 55, was shot multiple times and killed late Monday at his Marketplace convenience store at 6811 Walmsley Boulevard, according to police. A customer found him on the floor badly injured.
Police filed four search warrants for cell tower information from Verizon wireless. They are looking for tower data from January 10 and 11.
Police believe the data will help them determine who was using a cell phone in that specific area at the time of the murder.
Friends said they won't rest well until police tracked this suspect and three others who allegedly had a hand in Patel's murder.
Patel was remembered by many during a special gathering in front of his store Wednesday evening. Tokens and flowers were left in tribute to him, outside the store.
“I have no respect for you,” Bernard Branch said to the suspects. “You're going to get what's coming to you soon or later. Killing somebody like that, I mean he was a nice guy.”
Patel was remembered by many during a special gathering in front of his store Wednesday evening. Tokens and flowers were left in tribute to him, outside the store.
“The love that he shared not just with his customers, but with the community,” said Charles Willis. “We want to share some of that love back. And we hope that the family join us. But we know that the Patel spirit lives on in the store and in the community and we want to carry it on.”
Patel recently became a naturalized citizen and moved his wife and young twin boys to the United States.
The Shooting Suspects
Police provided a picture of one man who they said was among four suspects they were looking for in connection to Patel's death. Police urged anyone to call if they could identify the men.
The suspect's whose photo was released was described as a black male, about 6 feet 3 inches tall. He was wearing a black stocking cap with a brim, a black jacket with an inverted triangle logo on the left side of the chest, dark-colored shoes and dark-colored pants.
The second suspect was described as a black male wearing a black hooded jacket, a long-sleeved white shirt, black shoes and light-colored pants with a design and red shorts underneath.
The third suspect was described as a black male wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt and a black ski mask.
The fourth suspect was described as a black male wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt and a black ski mask.
Forensic investigators are still processing surveillance video in order to share photos of the other suspects.
Police hope to release other images of the remaining three suspects soon.
People who frequent this store said the gunman and his accomplices have upset a very large community and they would not rest until Mr. Patel's killers were captured.
Patel's funeral is scheduled Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Bliley funeral home on Hull Street.
Anyone with information should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.
