DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A DeKalb community is demanding justice following the murder of a popular store clerk.
Police say the man was shot and killed during an armed robbery at the BP gas station on Cedar Grove Road in Ellenwood late Monday.
DeKalb police say two men came into the store around 11:30 p.m. Police said they grabbed cash from the register and fled.
“We believe that the clerk then went after them in the parking lot. He confronted at least one of the individuals and that’s when he was shot,” said Mekka Parish of the DeKalb County Police Department.
Authorities say the 35-year-old clerk was found with a wound to the chest. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Friends identified the victim as Damodar Pathak, known to many customers as Peter. They said he was originally from India and had worked at the store for around four years.
Friends and customers gathered all day at the store where the clerk was shot.
"Pete would have given you the shirt off his back," said customer Winifred Farria. "He didn't deserve to be shot."
Farria said whoever shot the clerk should get life in prison or the death penalty.
Friends and customers say Pathak was a good man and a hard worker who loved people.
"He was very respectful. He was a very nice guy," said Alfredo Haynes.
Friends said they will hold a candlelight vigil for Pathak at the store on Friday.
Police are reviewing surveillance video of the incident.
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