Similarities Between Edison Murder, Long Island Robbery: Report

EDISON, NJ — Police on Long Island are investigating similarities between a robbery in New York and a gas station murder and robbery in Edison, police told Newsday.

The Suffolk County Police Department told Newsday that a 7-11 in West Babylon was robbed on the night of Dec. 19, just hours before a gas station clerk was shot and killed in an Edison robbery. Police are investigating possible similarities between the two incidents.

"The Suffolk County Police Department has been in contact with our law enforcement partners in Edison New Jersey. Our agencies are aware of the similarities in the armed robberies and we will continue to share intelligence," Suffolk County police told Newsday. They did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

John Bertram, 38, from Fords, was fatally shot around 4 a.m. on Thursday while working at the Speedway Gas Station on Amboy Avenue, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The investigation concerning the robbery/homicide which occurred in Edison last week is active and continuing. We are working diligently with our law enforcement partners, as well as the community," Carey said on Wednesday. He did not release new details about the investigation.

Suffolk police say the suspect in the Long Island robbery was wearing dark gloves, a hoodie, acid wash jeans and a mask. Carey has described the suspect in the shooting as of "slight build" who is wearing light colored pants, possibly jeans, a maroon hoodie, a mask and gloves.

The suspect entered the gas station and held Bertram up with a handgun, Carey said. Bertram handed over the cash register drawer and the suspect fired a single shot, killing Bertram, Carey said.

No arrests have been made in the Edison murder, despite an erroneous press release saying someone was in custody.

"My thoughts and prayers, and those of the Edison community, are with the victim's family," said Mayor Thomas Lankey said last week. "I have confidence in our police department's investigative capabilities – working alongside county prosecutor's detectives – to find and bring the perpetrator of this heinous crime to justice."

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Loren Long of the Edison Police Department at 732- 248-7531, or Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745- 4436.

Image via Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office