$25,000 reward offered for info in Streamwood clerk's murder

Authorities believe this man is responsible for the slaying Saturday of Anandkumar "Andy" Jaiswal during a robbery early Saturday at the Streamwood gas station where the victim worked. Courtesy of the Streamwood Police Department

Anandkumar Jaiswal's mother, Malti Jaiswal, is consoled by family members as Streamwood police announce an increase in the reward for information that may help find the person behind his murder Saturday during a robbery. George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Anandkumar Jaiswal's mother, Malti Jaiswal, is consoled by family members Tuesday as Streamwood police announce an increase in the reward for information that may help find the person behind his murder Saturday during a robbery. George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Matt Thornton, President and CEO of Thornton´s Inc., announces an increase in the reward to $25,000 on Tuesday during a news conference at Countryside Funeral Home in Bartlett for anyone with information that may help find the person behind the murder of Anandkumar Jaiswal during a robbery of the Thornton's Gas Station.

Ashwin Jayswal, the uncle of Anandkumar Jaiswal, speaks during a news conference Tuesday at which police announced an increase in the reward for information that may help find the person responsible for the Streamwood man's murder Saturday during a robbery. George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

The reward for information leading to an arrest in the weekend murder of a Streamwood gas station clerk has been raised to $25,000.

The announcement came Tuesday after a funeral in Bartlett for 24-year-old Anandkumar "Andy" Jaiswal, who was stabbed to death in a robbery early Saturday morning while working at the Thornton's gas station at 2 N. Barrington Road in Streamwood.

Matt Thornton, president and CEO of Thornton's Inc., said his company is offering the reward to bring Jaiswal's killer to justice.

"All of us at Thornton's are outraged by this random and senseless act," he said. "Andy was an outstanding young man, a valued team member, and he had a very bright future ahead with our organization."

Police and fire personnel found Jaiswal bleeding from his chest about 4:36 a.m. Saturday at the gas station. He was pronounced dead about an hour later at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

Authorities have since released photos from a surveillance camera showing the man they say is responsible for the slaying.

"Someone out there saw something, someone out there heard something and someone out there knows something," Streamwood Police Chief James Keegan said Tuesday. "Please come forward and bring a sense of closure to not only this family, but also the Thornton's gas station community and the village of Streamwood."

More than 20 members of Jaiswal's family crowded into a room Tuesday at Countryside Funeral Home to ask the public for help.

Ashwin Jayswal said his nephew came to the United States for a better life.

"He was the pillar of the family that got taken away," he said, adding that his nephew was the sole source of income for his immediate family. "We lost our son, our nephew."

Ashwin also translated a plea from Jaiswal's father, Narendra.

"He's requesting ... whatever information anybody can provide to the police department, (it) would be greatly helpful and any help the family can get will be really, really appreciated," he said.

Chetan Jayswal said although his cousin had been in the United States for three years, he never followed through with his dream of visiting downtown Chicago.

"There were so many times I asked him, 'I'm going downtown, do you want to go with me?' And he said, 'Yeah I want to come, but I've got to go to work,'" he said. "That's the only answer, all the time, I got. He said 'No, I've got to go work, maybe some other day, some other day.' That day never came."

Another cousin, Ravi Jayswal, said he hasn't felt safe since the attack.

"I'm scared to step outside my door now," he said. "It's so random. I hear about these things on the news all the time, but when it happens to someone my age that I'm related to, that's scary."

Surveillance photos show the suspect dressed in dark clothing with one white shoe and one dark-colored shoe. Police described the suspect as between 5 feet, 9 inches and 6 feet tall.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Streamwood Police Department Investigations Division at (630) 736-3700. Anonymous information also can be left on the department's crime tip hotline at (630) 736-3719.