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On Thursday, August 7, 2014, at about 1:35 a.m., Anne Arundel County Police received a 911 call from a customer of the Exxon gas station located at 7898 Ridge Road in Hanover in reference to the clerk being found injured/unconscious. Responding police officers and fire/EMS personnel responded and determined the clerk was deceased, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Surveillance video at the scene shows a male suspect entering the Exxon station and confronting the clerk shortly after 1 a.m. The suspect shoots the clerk, takes an undetermined amount of cash from behind the counter and flees on foot in an unknown direction. The suspect is described as an African American male, unknown age, with an average build, wearing a dark hooded sweat shirt, tan or light-colored shorts and armed with a handgun.
The victim has been identified as Rajinder Kumar, 49, of Glen Burnie, Maryland. Next of kin has been notified.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Anne Arundel County Police Department at 410-222-8610 or Metro Crime Stoppers.
UPDATE #2: The Anne Arundel County Police Department is releasing surveillance footage of the suspect from the incident along with a vehicle, described as a dark-colored Range Rover with occupant(s) that may have been witnesses to the homicide. The vehicle may also have New Jersey plates. Please note that the vehicle was previously reported to be a Jeep Patriot or Cherokee, but that is no longer believed to be the case.
UPDATE #3 10-25-14: Since the murder of Mr. Rajinder Kumar occurred on August 7, 2014, the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Homicide Unit has worked persistently to solve his murder. We released surveillance video, still images and have partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), The Anne Arundel County Muslim Council, and Metro Crime Stoppers to offer a reward of up to $27,000.
Detectives and FBI agents have sorted through numerous pieces of evidence and have followed up on several tips. Ultimately, a suspect was identified in the murder of Mr. Rajinder Kumar.
On October 24, 2014, detectives from the Anne Arundel County Police Department Homicide Unit received a Grand Jury Indictment for Robin Tyrone Smith, Jr. for the murder of Mr. Kumar. Working in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, Detective Jack Hartzell presented evidence to the Anne Arundel County Grand Jury on Friday, October 24, 2014. At the conclusion of his testimony, the Grand Jury secured an arrest warrant charging Robin Smith Jr. with the following: Count One: First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, and Manslaughter, Count Two: Armed Robbery, Count Three: Use of a Firearm in a Felony, Count Four: Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence.
Smith was taken into custody in the Glen Burnie area on the evening of October 24, 2014 without incident. He is currently incarcerated at the Jennifer Road Detention Center on a no bail status. The motive for this murder is robbery.
As the investigation continues to unfold the Anne Arundel County Police Department urges anyone with information on the Rajunder Kumar homicide to contact Detective Jack Hartzell of the Homicide Unit at 410-222-3460 or the Tip Line at 410-222-4700. You can also contact Metro Crime Stoppers with any information also.
Although an arrest has been made, this remains a very active and fluid investigation. Detectives are still requesting to speak to anyone who may have additional information related to this case.
Suspect: Robin Tyrone Smith, Jr., 26, of 400 block of Pamela Rd. Glen Burnie, MD
Since January 1, 2013, the Anne Arundel County Police Department has investigated 20 murders, 19 of which have been closed. The open murder investigation is that of Ana Isabel Racine, 21, of Pasadena who was killed just before midnight on Saturday January 25, 2014 in the 200 block of Meadow Rd. in Riviera Beach (Pasadena), MD.
“I am grateful for the partnerships with the FBI and our community that played vital roles in solving this murder,” said Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Kevin Davis. “This cold-blooded, heartless killer had the audacity to roam freely while our community grieved. He committed this cowardly act and never thought twice about turning himself in. Today, he’s in jail.”
Original Surveillance Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1gKoFOq4o
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