Police: Arrest In January Shooting Of Jericho Gas Station Attendant
JERICHO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police have made an arrest in connection with the shooting death of a gas station attendant on Long Island back in January.
Joshua Golson-Orelus, 23, of Westbury was tracked down in upstate Utica and arrested Wednesday on first-degree murder, robbery, attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon charges, Nassau County police said.
Police: Arrest In January Shooting Of Jericho Gas Station Attendant
Golson-Orelus is charged in the death of Hany Awad, 56, of Levittown who was found shot in the torso at a BP gas station on Jericho Turnpike in Jericho on January 28, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim is survived by a brother who lives in Nassau county. He told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff the arrest is a great relief to everyone.
The hardworking father with children in Egypt is also missed by co-workers.
"Nice, working guy," said Auggie Sieyir.
Golson-Orelus is also charged in connection with Sunday's holdup of a Citgo gas station in Westbury, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
After the holdup, an officer got the license plate of the suspect's getaway car as he was fleeing the scene and that helped police make an arrest, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.
Citgo employees said it's the third time this year the same suspect has pointed a gun at them.
"It feels better. It's good," said worker Jose Santos.
"I'm so happy that he got arrested. It was something very scary coming to the gas station," said one patron.
Police: Arrest In January Shooting Of Jericho Gas Station Attendant
"This arrest has taken a menace to public safety off of the streets and we will prosecute this case aggressively to ensure that he'll never threaten our communities again," Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.
Detective Sgt. James Skopek said Golson-Orelus is also believed to be the serial gas station robber who held up or tried to hold up a dozen gas stations in Nassau County since December.
"We're looking not just at these two cases...but all those cases," Skopek said.
Golson-Orelus, a construction worker who has several addresses, pleaded not guilty during arraignment Thursday in Hempstead and is being held without bail.
Neighbors said he is a member of the Bloods street gang with a criminal record.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted and is due back in court on June 22.
