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Gas Station Attendant Shot To Death During Attempted Robbery In The Bronx

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A young gas station attendant was shot to death Tuesday night during an apparent attempted robbery in the Bronx.

Lamin Sillah, 28, was gunned down around 9:40 p.m. at the RC Petroleum station on East 182nd Street and Southern Boulevard in the East Tremont section, police said.

He was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.

1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports

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Police said they are looking for two suspects -- the gunman and an accomplice who was acting as a lookout.

WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reports

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"This man, the perpetrator, shows up on a bicycle with another individual as a lookout on a bicycle. He proceeds to rob the man outside, the first attendant, of the $30. He goes inside, he finds the victim here counting money," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters including WCBS 880's Irene Cornell.

Deadly Bronx Gas Station Robbery
A suspect (left) wanted in connection with a deadly robbery in the Bronx. (credit: NYPD)

Sillah got into a struggle with the gunman and was shot several times in the torso, police said.

"There was a struggle, he shoots him, he falls down, he shoots him again, and twice goes through his pockets, drags the body out of the office," Kelly said.

It is unclear whether any cash was taken. Police said both suspects fled the scene on bicycles.

Bronx Gas Station Robbery
Surveillance image of two suspects wanted in connection with a deadly robbery at a gas station in the Bronx (credit: NYPD)

Sillah began working at the gas station a week ago after leaving a job at a restaurant, relatives said.

The Gambian native came to the country 10 months ago on a student visa and was taking classes at a technical school in Manhattan, relatives told 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.

He was wrapping up his shift at the gas station at the time of the shooting, Papa reported.

Family members told CBS 2's John Slattery that they were having difficulty coping with Sillah's death.

"I feel very bad. I feel very hard in heart. Since it happened yesterday, I still didn't close my eyes," said Alhagie Ebou Cham, the victim's uncle.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

The gunman is described as a black man, between 20- and 25-years-old, with a stocky build. Police said he was wearing a blue New York Giants sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577 (TIPS).

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