Gas Station Clerk Had Defensive Wound

Nayyer Rana, a gas station clerk who was killed in May 2012, had a defensive wound on his finger, suggesting a struggle before he was fatally shot while at work at the Broadway Petro Mart.

A photo of the defensive wound, as well as graphic images of Rana’s body on the gas station floor were shown to a jury who is hearing a testimony against 21-year-old Billy Ingram. Ingram is charged with homicide and armed robbery and faces up to life in prison if he is convicted.

The Waukesha County District Attorney’s office is trying to prove through evidence linked to Ingram that he was the person responsible for Rana’s death. Nearly $1,000, snacks, cigars and other items were stolen from the gas station during the robbery.

But Ingram’s attorneys are arguing that investigators excluded Ingram’s cousin as a possible suspect without enough research, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Ingram was unaware the items he had on him linking him to Rana’s death were stolen in a gas station robbery, argued his attorney Katie Bricco, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The jury trial began Wednesday and is scheduled through June 7.

Rana was shot three times, Specialist Dan Streicher testified. While some evidence was recovered in the convenience store, including a bullet lodged in the wall, officers still could not locate the last bullet.

Waukesha police looked throughout the store, even examining bags of potato chips for possible bullet holes, Streicher testified.

“We searched through everything that was possible. … We couldn’t find any other holes where a bullet could have gone,” Streicher said.

It wasn’t too long before the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s office contacted Waukesha investigators to inform them a bullet had been lodged in Rana’s spine.

Investigators had no immediate suspects in the homicide on May 29, 2012. Rana’s family had offered an award for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, but the lead came when the Brookfield Police Department was investigating a burglary in that community. 

Early on the morning of May 30, 2012, Elm Grove police located a duffle bag and a backpack at a bus stop on Bluemound Road. The bags contained numerous packs of cigarettes, cigars and a laptop computer. 

Less than a half-hour later, Brookfield police were searching for a suspect in a home invasion burglary when they saw Ingram at Bluemound and Sunnyslope Roads, court records state. 

While questioning him, an Elm Grove officer approached and asked if he was missing some bags. Ingram said one of the bags found at the bus stop was his, but he denied ownership of the second bag which contained Rana’s keys, unopened cigarettes and cigars, smoking pipes, the computer and $100.30 in cash, according to the affidavit. 

Police said both bags had information linked to Ingram. Brookfield police were suspicious and contacted Waukesha police to share information.

Ingram, who had a warrant out for his arrest, was taken into custody by Brookfield police during a burglary investigation. Ingram had Rana’s cell phone on his person, as well as various currency that appeared to have blood stains, according to court records.    

Police located a loaded handgun, ammunition and clothing that appeared to have blood stains on it at Ingram’s home on Jackson Court, according to court records.