Suspect in Convenience Store Killing Was Regular Customer
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1 TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Suspect in convenience store killing was regular customer Search continues identified as the suspected shooter late “My mom recognized him right away,” Saturday in the April 27 robbery and mur- Patel said, “especially when she saw his for alleged shooter der at A&M Discount Beverage in Lake picture.” City. “My mom was shocked,” said Patel, who in April 27 robbery. His alleged accomplice, James Leonard is now running the store after his father’s Johnson, 23, was arrested by Florida death. By LAURA HAMPSON and TONY BRITT Department of Law Enforcement agents Patel said he doesn’t know if he’s at a Gate service station in Jacksonville relieved that one suspect has been arrest- The man who allegedly shot and killed Saturday, said Steve Shaw, Lake City Police ed or disgusted that the other suspect was Rajni Patel during a convenience store rob- Department public information officer. a regular customer. bery was a regular customer, according to Rajni Patel’s son, Nirav Patel, 28, said Grandison Johnson Patel said his biggest fear was that the Patel’s family, who said they were shocked Grandison was a regular customer who alleged murderer was a regular customer. at the realization. spent most of his money on lottery tickets nized Grandison as a customer during the Over time people develop relationships Authorities are continuing the search at the store. robbery, her son said. She was shot at, but for Ernest Larry Grandison, who was Daxa Patel, Rajni Patel’s wife, recog- was unhurt. MURDER continued on 3A Millennium Fountain back up and running Lake DeSoto 25-horsepower motor. tures. “We downsized it to just a 25- “Since 2000, the year we put it landmark returns horsepower motor with a new in, there has been a lot of wear distribution nozzle,” Clanton said. and tear on it,” Clanton said. “To after repairs. “That’s out there today making make it go back out there and that nice fan-out pattern. That last, we started ordering a lot of By TONY BRITT helps reduce the amount of parts and replaced things on it.” [email protected] horsepower and electrical con- In addition, maintenance crews sumption which is saving us quite found some of the fountain’s sup- One of Lake City’s most notable a bit of money.” port pontoons had holes and also landmarks, Millennium Fountain, The fountain was returned to needed to be replaced. Stainless is up and running again in Lake the lake and turned back on May steel brackets hold together the DeSoto after a six-month absence 6 after being taken out of service pontoons that support the foun- for repairs. in October. tain as it floats on the lake. Dave Clanton, Lake City’s “Once they replaced the “The brackets had worn some executive director of utilities, said nozzle and turned the fountain holes in the pontoon where we much of the work on the fountain back on, the height of the water couldn’t see them and when we revolved around normal wear and started dropping drastically and went to put the fountain back in tear. we found out that the 25-horse the lake about a month ago we The nozzle that sprays the power motor was going bad,” noticed it started sinking on one water was replaced as part regu- Clanton said. “So, we had to side,” Clanton said. lar maintenance in September, pull everything out of the lake, Clanton was unable to provide but during those repairs workers order the new motor and the a precise estimate for the cost of discovered other issues with the new pump and wait for that to the maintenance. However, he fountain. come in.” noted the fountain is scheduled Originally there were three While maintenance crews were for additional maintenance after separate fountains, each run by waiting for the parts to arrive, July 4, when cables supporting JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter 7.5-horsepower motors, and a they worked on the fountain’s the fountain will be properly The Millennium Fountain has been returned to Lake DeSoto. center fountain that was run by a cables, lighting and light fix- aligned, cleaned and reset. City, FDOT A five-course farmers’ feast agree on By HANNAH O. BROWN [email protected] sidewalks Local food lovers gathered at Ruppert’s Bakery and Cafe on Saturday night for an By HANNAH O. BROWN elaborate dinner composed of produce, [email protected] dairy and meat derived from local farms. The five course meal, hosted by Hugh Lake City has entered into an agree- Bryant and Annette Bleser from Planet ment with The Florida Department of Claire Farmacy, was savored at a relaxed Transportation for the construction of pace with attendees dining for over three “various sidewalks” within the city lim- hours. its. Bryant, co-owner of Planet Claire The improvements will be completely Farmacy and professional chef, wore a funded by FDOT pending appropriation white chef’s coat with brightly colored of funds to the FDOT budget. embroidery reading “Executive Farmacist” The timeframe of completion for the on the chest. On his head he wore a faded project has not yet been established. baseball cap with ragged edges. City council approved the resolution Teachers, health professionals, farmers for the agreement at the council meet- and business people -- all of them foodies ing on Monday night. alike -- gathered at Ruppert’s for Planet Mayor Stephen Witt presented a proc- Claire’s first Farm-to-Table dinner, a cre- lamation to Director of Public Works ative culinary experience made from fresh Thomas Henry for National Public products from local farms. The purpose Works Week at the meeting as well. of the event was threefold: to relax while HANNAH O. BROWN/ Lake City Reporter “I have never called Thomas Henry savoring fresh cuisine, to educate about A diverse selection of hors d’oeuvres was presented before the five course meal even began or through Mr. Johnson or talked to him local food opportunities, and to fundraise at the Farm-to-Table dinner on Saturday. Liver pate, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, cucum- myself that he didn’t quickly answer the for the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense ber topped with red caviar and a shrimp kabob served with pineapple and gouda were only question and do what was necessary,” some of the flavors served that night. Councilwoman Melinda Moses said. FARMERS’ continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 84 CALL US: Opinion ............... 4A TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 89 62 People................. 2A SUBSCRIBE TO T-Storm Chance Obituaries ............. 5A PEOPLE WEDNESDAY THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics ......... 3B Another Local news Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles ................. 4B BeeGee dies. roundup. 20 20 $ Call 888-807-FAST(3278) High-Speed Internet for 20/mo * Free activation and installation. Can not be combined with other oers. Customers must pass credit check. Accelerate plan $20/mo for rst 6 months, then $29.99 thereafter. Must have Auto $ * Bill Pay or plan is $23/mo. Voice Service is $20/month for rst 6 months, then $25 thereafter. Pricing does not include Modem Lease fees or taxes and other surcharges for Voice Service. or Bundle with Voice for Only 20 More Email address required. Contact us for porting availability. Oer expires 6/15 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 Page Editor: Rick Burnham, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Saturday: Saturday: Saturday: n Pianist Peter Nero is n Actress Fairuza Balk 5-10-14 Afternoon: 2-0-3 Afternoon: 4-8-7-0 Sunday: 78. is 38. -17-28-33 Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 4-6-7-11-23 n News correspondent n Actress Ginnifer Bernard Shaw is 72. Goodwin is 34. n Baseball player n Baseball player Chad PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Tommy John is 69. Tracy is 32. n Actor Al Franken is 61. n Baseball player Josh n Actor Mr. T is 60. Hamilton is 31. n Supermodel Naomi n Olympic athlete Apollo Gibb matriarch loses third son Campbell is 42. Ohno is 30. Daily Scripture LONDON — Her sons music’s leading men. The were blessed with musical heartthrob in the black hat, “[A Church Divided Over Leaders] gifts that brought riches the 45-year-old has reigned I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, and fame. On Monday on the charts and in album Barbara Gibb was living sales for years and remains in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, a parent’s ultimate night- a force in the genre despite that all of you agree with one another mare — preparing, for the what he considered shenani- third time, to lay a child gans by his longtime record in what you say and that there be to rest. label. He accused Curb of no divisions among you, but that Her son Robin Gibb — a trying to prolong the length Bee Gees founder known of his contract by releasing a you be perfectly united in mind and for his astonishing vocals string of greatest hits pack- thought.” and songwriting skills — ages that frustrated fans and died Sunday after a long artist alike. - 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV battle with cancer at the age of 62. Associated Press Earlier, she had lost her Members of The Bee Gees Musical Group, Maurice Gibb, Bond girl takes Lake City Reporter sons Andy Gibb, a pop idol Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb pose for a photo. A representative HOW TO REACH US 007 to the beach BUSINESS who died in 1988 at age 30 said on Sunday that Robin Gibb died at the age of 62.