Gas Station Homicide Trial Begins on 1-Year Anniversary

One year after gas station clerk Nayyer Rana was gunned down while working at the Broadway Petro Mart and found by a customer in the early morning hours of May 29, 2012, the trial against the man accused of killing Rana began.

The jury was selected Wednesday as 21-year-old Billy Ingram tries to fight a first-degree attempted homicide charge. A criminal complaint alleges Ingram, who was on probation, killed Rana while stealing $985, cigars, cigarettes and snacks.

Ingram also faces one count of armed robbery with use of force, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Rana was shot in the shoulder and the abdomen, as well as what appeared to be in the mouth. Two .40 caliber shell casings were located by a freezer and by the front entrance, according to a search warrant.

The Waukesha Police Department did not have any suspects in the early homicide case until a break was made early May 30, 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.