In the quiet city of Warner Robins, Georgia, a beloved family man, 49-year-old Navaneetbhai Patel, was tragically killed on December 15, 2019, during an armed robbery at the Citgo Express Stop on Russell Parkway. Patel, the husband of a store employee, was at the gas station when the fatal incident unfolded. He was transported to Houston Medical Center after being shot, but succumbed to his injuries.
The Indian-American man's death was the city's fourth homicide of the year.
The investigation into the senseless killing led authorities to two suspects from Macon: Roy Ford Jr., who was 19 at the time, and 36-year-old Alvin Bernard Dunn. Their arrests were the result of a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Warner Robins Police Department, Bibb County Sheriff's Office, Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshal's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, and U.S. Postal Inspectors. The duo was already in custody at the Bibb County Jail for a separate armed robbery of a post office that occurred on Black Friday of the same year.
During the subsequent four-day trial, prosecutors laid out the events of that tragic evening. Ford and Dunn had traveled from Macon to Warner Robins with the intent to commit a robbery. Ford entered the Citgo, demanding money from the cashier. After the cashier complied, Ford shot Patel without provocation as he was leaving the store. Dunn's role in the crime was to serve as the getaway driver. Evidence presented during the trial included DNA linking one of the men to the scene, as well as firearm residue found in their vehicle and on their clothing. Witness descriptions also played a crucial role in identifying the perpetrators.
In January 2020, both Ford and Dunn were indicted on multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, and armed robbery. The indictment also included a charge for violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, alleging their association with the Crips street gang and that the crime was committed to enhance their status within the gang. In November 2024, a jury found both men guilty. Roy Ford Jr. was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Alvin Bernard Dunn received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
