Funeral held for Ocala store clerk shot during robbery

OCALA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Thursday was tough day for people who knew and loved Ujjav “Rocky” Patel, as they said their final goodbyes to the Ocala resident at a funeral service.   Ocala Police said Patel, 35, was shot and killed during a robbery on April 22, inside the Jiffy Food convenience store, where he worked. 

“Rocky was a legend to me. He was a hero to me. He was that dude that everybody loved,” said Cassandra Snow, one of his friends.

People who knew him said Patel was taking care of his aging parents  “He’s a very honest guy. A very hard working guy,” said Mit Mehda, another friend.

Friends like Snow still can’t believe Rocky is gone.  “Out of all people, Who Kills Rocky?” Snow asked.

Chilling surveillance video from the store’s security cameras shows the gunman burst through the front door of the store pointing a gun.   A second clip of surveillance video shows the gunman climbing on top of, then over the counter, pointing the gun at Patel

Detectives are still actively searching for Patel’s killer. T hey have no suspects and have made no arrests. They are still asking for assistance from the public in identifying and locating the suspect.

In a recording of a 911 call reporting the shooting, a dispatcher is heard asking the caller, “You said there were shots fired in the store?”  To which the caller  replies “Yes! Yes! Yes! “  The dispatcher asks, “Is he alive?” The caller answers with, “He’s not responding.”

CrimeStoppers has upped the reward to $2,500 for any tips that leads to the arrest of the killer.  The Ocala Police Department is also offering up to $3,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 352-368-STOP (7867 or call Ocala Police at 352.369700. You can also call Detective Jeff Hurst at 352-369-7189.