Gas Station Worker Gunned Down

By Dan Miller

Residents walking by the Mobil service station located at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and College Point Boulevard early Sunday morning discovered the body of 39-year-old Nadeem Khan, a recent immigrant from Pakistan, lying on the floor in the glass protected booth where he worked.

The scene of Nadeem Khan’s murder.

Khan, 39, who recently came to the United States to make a better life for himself, had his life was cut short when two unknown assailants walked into the booth and put several bullets into his body. Surveillance cameras caught two men walking into the building. Normally the door would have been locked, protecting staff at the busy gas station, however, on this night the air conditioning was not working and the victim apparently left the back door open so he could put on a fan in the outer hallway to keep himself cool.

Instead he lost his life.

Police officials to think that the crime may have been a premeditated hate crime. They did not say whether any money was taken from the register, raising speculation on the motive for the attack.

The incident took place at about 1:30a.m. Sunday, just a half hour after Khan’s brother dropped him off to take over the graveyard shift at the station. Workers said this was the first time he worked the Saturday overnight shift after starting his job there only three months ago.

Friends and family gathered in Astoria on Monday to attend a quickly organized funeral where a service was performed. His body will be flown back to his native Pakistan where his remains will be buried.

Friends of the family indicated that the victim was planning a trip back to his native Pakistan, his first since the green-carded immigrant came to New York nine months ago.

Police are asking anyone with information about this crime to call (800) 577-TIPS.