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Cops Arrest Suspect in Killing of Gas Station Attendant

By Dan Rivoli | September 14, 2012 7:53am | Updated on September 14, 2012 11:01am

THE BRONX — Cops have arrested an East Harlem man in the fatal shooting of a gas station attendant in Belmont earlier this month.

Freddie McGrier, 21, was taken into custody Thursday night for the shooting death of Lamin Sillah, a 28-year-old Gambian immigrant who worked at the gas station to put himself through school and support his wife back home.

Sillah, who came to the United States seven months ago, was inside the gas station at East 182nd Street and Southern Boulevard on Sept. 4 about 9:40 p.m. when McGrier allegedly rolled up on a bicycle with an accomplice acting as a lookout.

After robbing an attendant working outside for $30, McGrier allegedly went inside to take more cash. A struggled ensued and McGrier shot Sillah several times in the torso, police said.

Sillah later died at St. Barnabas Hospital.

The NYPD, which released graphic video of the moments leading up to the shooting, later offered a $12,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in the case.

McGrier, who has prior arrests assault, robbery and grand larceny, was charged with murder, robbery and criminal possession of a weapon, the NYPD said. Cops said he was on parole when he allegedly robbed the gas station.

He was awaiting arraignment Friday morning at the Bronx Criminal Court.

The second suspect, who was described by police as having a thin build and wearing a white shirt at the time of the robbery, has not been captured, police said.