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Deputies ID Man Video Shows In Polk Shop Before Slayings

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2007

LAKELAND - The Polk County Sheriff's Office has identified a man surveillance video shows inside a BP convenience store 21 minutes before two employees were killed in a robbery attempt.

The man was a customer, said sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood.

His name has not been released, and it's unclear whether detectives have interviewed him.

The man has never been a suspect, but detectives hope he can help in their investigation, Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Detectives also are seeking the driver of a white Mitsubishi seen in the store video.

Storekeepers Pravinkumar Patel, 33, and Dasharathbhai Patel, 51, were killed Friday night by someone who tried to rob the BP store and gas station at Interstate 4 and County Road 557.

The two men were changing numbers on a gas price sign outside the store when a man ran up and shot them in the head at close range. Autopsy reports indicate the gun barrel was pressed against their heads. Video shows the men had their hands raised as the killer approached.

A clerk inside the locked store wasn't hurt because the killer was unable to get inside.

The killer is described as black, 6 feet to 6 feet 4 inches tall and of medium build.

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