Rowan County Neighborhood Mourns Death Of Store Owner Shot By Teen

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — The death of 36-year-old Rowan County convenience store owner Mainak Patel has filled neighbors with heartbreak.

Cassidy Russ lives down the street from Patel’s Tobacco House on Airport Road. Russ was scared to learn that deputies responded to a shooting and found Patel in his shop with multiple gun shot wounds on Tuesday just after 11 A.M..

“He would help anybody that needed help,” Russ said. “When I heard it was him, I just couldn’t really believe it.”

Patel was rushed to a hospital but died from his injuries. Rowan County Sheriff, Travis Allen, said a 16-year-old fired the gun while trying to rob the Tobacco House. Authorities shared a photo of the teen running out of the store with a gun.

“We know that, something bad happened in the store, something that maybe panicked him to shoot and to fire,” Sheriff Allen said.

Sheriff Allen said the teen was on the run for 9 hours, and he hid in the nearby woods but was later found by investigators. Police are not releasing the suspects name because of his age.

“He’s made very limited statements to us other than pretty much admitting to what he did,” Sheriff Allen said.

The sheriff and neighbors said Patel was a pillar in the community. Patel leaves behind a wife and daughter with a second child on the way.

Neighbors have created a vigil outside of the Tobacco House. Neighbors said they want to help the family however possible.