The city’s third homicide this year was reported to New Haven Police Department Monday evening.

According to a press release from NHPD, officers were called to investigate a reported shooting at the Pay Rite Food Store, located at 262 Forbes Ave. Officers discovered 39-year-old New Haven resident Sanjay Patel, the store clerk, inside with four gunshot wounds — three to his chest and one to his hand. Patel was taken to Yale-New Haven hospital via ambulance. At 8:21 p.m., he was pronounced deceased.

Officer David Hartman said in the release that witnesses told investigators they saw two masked men, dressed in dark clothing, run from the store after sounds of gunfire.

“At this point, police have not identified a suspect or suspects,” Hartman said.

Detectives are currently investigating the incident as a probable robbery, but Hartman added that it is not confirmed that robbery was the primary motivation of the individuals involved in the shooting.

 

Correction: April 19

A previous version of this article reported the homicide to be the second in New Haven this year; it is in fact the third. 

STEPHANIE ADDENBROOKE