Store owner killed for $3 of lottery tickets

Jun 27, 2011, 8:50 am (37 comments)

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MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Felony murder charges have been filed against a man accused in the dragging death of a northern New Jersey gas station owner, who authorities say was killed over the alleged theft of a few dollars worth of lottery tickets.

Bail was set Sunday at $750,000 for 34-year-old Ronnie Fedo of Lake Hopatcong. He's also charged with aggravated manslaughter, death by auto, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and robbery in connection with Saturday afternoon's incident in Jefferson Township.

Speaking at a news conference Sunday in Morristown, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said Fedo arrived at the station in a sport utility vehicle around 1:45 p.m. and went into its convenience store. At the time, the station's owner — 65-year-old Nisan Ambaroglu of Paramus — was working at the gas pumps and no staffers were in the store.

Fedo soon reached over the counter and took the lottery tickets — about $3 to $4 worth — and put them in his pants pocket, Bianchi said. Ambaroglu then entered the store a short time later and Fedo, after making unrelated purchase, left and entered his vehicle.

After realizing what had happened, Ambaroglu ran out and went to the driver's side window of the SUV in a bid to stop Fedo, who drove off and dragged Ambaroglu through the parking lot and then for about 100 yards on Route 15 South. Ambaroglu then fell from the vehicle and ended up in the roadway as Fedo drove away.

Ambaroglu, who had owned the gas station for about seven years, was taken to Saint Clare's Hospital in Dover, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. But further details on his injuries and a cause of death have not been disclosed

By late Saturday afternoon, authorities had released video of the incident and photographs of the suspect. And around 10 p.m. Saturday, Jefferson police were called by a worker at another township business — not far from the gas station — who recognized Fedo.

After further investigation, authorities located Fedo and the SUV they believe he was driving when the incident occurred. Bianchi said the arrest occurred Sunday morning, but would not say where it happened or provide further details.

Bianchi said Fedo was later admitted to a local hospital for treatment of a leg infection — which was unrelated to the gas station incident — and remained there Sunday afternoon. When he is released, he will be taken to the county jail.

AP

Comments

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

What is wrong with people? $3.00 you gotta be kidding me. Fedo needs to be dragged up & down the street just like he did Mr. Ambaroglu.....

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

When I was in Philadelphia in 1972 a fellow student was killed for pocket change!

The world is getting worse .................. I was down and out once .................. I asked people for spare change, I did not steal !!!!!!!

Mad

time*treat's avatartime*treat

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Jun 27, 2011

What is wrong with people? $3.00 you gotta be kidding me. Fedo needs to be dragged up & down the street just like he did Mr. Ambaroglu.....

Going to jail is going to be the new "free healthcare, room & board" system for many people.

increase's avatarincrease

A human life is worth a lot more than $3-4.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

What a sad, sad story.

This guy oughta get the chair expeditiously.

But the libs and the ACLU will make sure he's around and comfortable for another 15 years or so even if he gets convicted.

Afterall, he may have suffered the horrors of drug addiction due to the pressures of society or something.

So it may have been our fault.

In which case he'll be sent to drug-rehab for a year or so.

Then be released as a hero of the left.

And write a book about his struggles.

And how nothing was his fault.

And the crowd goes wild...

loonasee2's avatarloonasee2

Sounds like a good case for four wheel drive pickup,a twelve foot rope,and a bumpy back road.And Fedo can ride on the end of the rope.................eye for a eye and a tooth for a tooth

sully16's avatarsully16

Dirt bag needs a dirt nap.

konane's avatarkonane

Shameful actions, no conscience.

Sincere condolences to Mr. Ambaroglu's family.  May he rest in peace.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Jun 27, 2011

Dirt bag needs a dirt nap.

Roll Eyes you'll get no arguement from me ... personally they ought to bury him alive

TheOtherOne's avatarTheOtherOne

My condolences to the Ambaroglu family. This guy died for no reason.

I wonder what compelled him to run after the guy though? Was he afraid the NJ lottery comission would hold him accountable for the stolen tickets? Did he think he could convince the crook to give up the stolen tickets?

I worked at a gas station as a yout and would run after people sometimes if they didnt pay. Usually they just 'forgot' and would hand over the cash or come in and pay (a different time and place, I know). The owner would always tell me I didnt have to do that but I told him I took it personally.

I guess that is what Ambaroglu felt but these days I have come to realize it is not worth risking my life over a few dollars or chasing a potential hardened criminal over a few dollars (or even several thousand dollars) worth of goods. That is what insurance is for.

surimaribo24's avatarsurimaribo24

just one saying WTF. i hope he rot in jail and they nail him from the back so hard that he will remember and regret his whole life what he did.

 

god bless the victim soul and may god give the family the strenght to go through this rough timing .

peace.

CashWinner$

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Jun 27, 2011

What is wrong with people? $3.00 you gotta be kidding me. Fedo needs to be dragged up & down the street just like he did Mr. Ambaroglu.....

I Agree!

Grovel's avatarGrovel

Why would he chase after someone who stole a few lotto tickets. Its not like they were any good.

NoShame's avatarNoShame

A similar incident happened at my college a few years ago.  A student offered a couple of townies a ride home from a party and they shot and killed him and took the $2 that was all he had on him.

Pretty depressing.

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