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Witness Sought In Polk Slaying

Surveillance Video Photo

Polk Sheriff's Deputies are searching for the driver of this car who may have seen the man who killed Jashavantal K. Patel, 54, of Winter Haven yesterday.

By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2008

Updated: 06/22/2008 02:01 pm

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Shooting Suspect

The video shows a man in a hoodie sweatshirt with a bandanna across his face walk into the convenience store. In his right hand, held down at about belt level, is a silver handgun. He approaches the counter, raises the gun, wipes it across his mouth, points it at the clerk — who is off screen — and fires. Then he runs out of camera view before popping back in for about a second.

Deputies say the 22-second video, released Saturday morning by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, shows the man who killed Jashavantal K. Patel, 54, of Winter Haven on Friday.

Deputies are asking anyone with information about the killing to contact them. They are particularly interested in talking to the owner of a dark-colored (possibly maroon) sedan, seen driving southbound on N. Suwannee Avenue shortly after the incident. Deputies believe the driver may have seen the suspect.

About 9:30 a.m. Friday, the man with the gun entered the store at 404 U.S. 17-92 and shot Patel, 54. He then fled, police said. Investigators said robbery was the motive, but the masked bandit didn't make off with any money.

Five minutes later, a witness flagged down a Polk County deputy and reported the shooting. Detectives are reviewing the surveillance video.

Paramedics took Patel to Heart of Florida Hospital, where he died, said Donna Wood, a sheriff's spokeswoman.

One of Patel's co-workers called the shooting "a senseless crime."

Detectives say that the suspect, described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a light-colored "hoodie"-type shirt and a blue bandanna, and was last seen wearing knee-length jean shorts, and black sneakers.

"There is a $5,000 reward," Wood said. "Obviously somebody is going to recognize him. He has a bandanna over his face, but people recognize people they know and sometimes folks brag. Someone may know something or may have seen something."

Davenport police are working with the sheriff's department on the investigation.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.

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