EDMONDS — Police released a more detailed suspect description Thursday in the unsolved killing of Nagendiram Kandasamy, a 7-Eleven clerk shot to death last week while working behind the counter in Edmonds.
So far, the Edmonds Police Department has gathered more than 100 tips about the shooter’s identity, but detectives are still asking for the public’s help.
“This has 100% been a team effort,” Sgt. Josh McClure said. “Every detective we have is working on this.”
Kandasamy, 64, was working at the store at 8101 238th St. SW when a man came in, jumped on the counter and fired a gun, according to police.
A customer found Kandasamy on the floor around 5 a.m., unresponsive and bleeding. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office determined he died from a gunshot wound.
The evidence suggests Kandasamy was not armed at the time of the shooting, McClure said.
Officers believe the suspect is a man in his 20s. Surveillance video showed the hood of his jacket up and he had covered his face. At the time of the shooting, he wore black shoes, black pants and a red-and-black jacket.
“Kandasamy was a loving and dedicated husband and father whose family is desperate for closure,” says the news release. “The motive for this horrific act is still being investigated.”
A community vigil for Kandasamy is planned from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Edmonds Lutheran Church, 23525 84th Ave. W. It’s expected to be an informal gathering where people can share their feelings and process his tragic death.
In an initial press release, police reported they believed the suspect is white. They are not sure about that, however, McClure said. All they know is what can be seen in surveillance footage.
“That’s why we released the additional images today with more detail on the shoes and gloves,” McClure said Thursday.
Detectives have also learned the man fled to a white four-door vehicle driven by another person, according to an Edmonds police news release. It’s unknown if there were other passengers.
The car is a sedan, but the make and model are not clear.
Police encouraged “the driver and any other passenger” to come forward. McClure wondered if anybody in the car did not realize what was happening at the time, and now wants to speak with detectives.
After the shooting, the vehicle fled east on 238th Street SW into a neighborhood, and then onto 76th Avenue West before turning east near the boundary of Snohomish and King counties, according to police.
Detectives asked residents to check home security video from Feb. 21 between 4:45 a.m. and 5:05 a.m. Contact Edmonds police at 425-771-0212 with any information that may help.
Crime Stoppers and 7-Eleven are offering an $11,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Detectives can also be reached by email at policetips@edmondswa.gov.
If you believe you see the suspect or the vehicle, do not approach — call 911.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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