Police: Getty Owner Killed Trying to Stop Robber

Police are searching for the suspect and vehicle they believe were involved in the death of the owner of the Getty gas station on Rt. 15 South on Saturday afternoon.

Nisan Ambaroglu, 65, of Paramus, died of injuries after being dragged by a vehicle driven by a person who attempted to rob the gas station, Jefferson Township police said. The Jefferson police department is working with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and the Morris County Sheriff's Office on the case.

The robber is described as black or Hispanic, olive-skinned, male, and thin, according to the prosecutor's office. Jefferson police also said he was approximately 5-foot, 11 inches to 6 feet tall. The man was wearing a white short sleeve shirt, blue and white sneakers and an "Oakland As" baseball hat, the prosecutor's office said.

He was driving a Toyota Highlander, tan or champagne in color, the prosecutor's office said. The vehicle, possibly a 2003 model, had a luggage rack on top of it, the prosecutor's office said.

"From what we saw on the security tape from the gas station, the suspect drove into the station at about 1:45 p.m. on Saturday," Capt. Eric Wilsusen of the Jefferson Township Police Department said. "Both the owner and attendant were outside working the pumps. The suspect went inside the gas station’s store, reached behind the counter, and pulled out what appeared to be lottery tickets. He then made a purchase of something else and left the store."

“Somehow, the owner of the station realized that something was wrong and the lottery tickets were gone," Wilsusen said. "We’re still trying to piece together how he knew that, but he ran out and confronted the suspect, holding onto the car. The vehicle left and started to drive down Rt. 15 South. The owner was holding onto the vehicle, and was dragged with the vehicle down Rt. 15. At some point he either let go or fell off the vehicle. He was then run over by the rear tire of the vehicle. He was taken to St. Clare’s Hospital in Dover, where he died of extensive injuries suffered as a result of the accident.”

The robber is still at large, Wilsusen said.

Anyone with information can contact the Jefferson Police Department  at 973-697-1300, Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-2900 or Morris County Sheriff's Office Crimestopper Program at 973-COP-CALL.