Slain gas station cashier remembered for kindness

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The gas station cashier who was murdered in cold blood minutes before closing Thursday night is being remembered as quiet, sensitive and caring.

Police have released few details since the incident, but News 8 can share photos of the victim, a man named Maninder Singh.

Singh was well known and well liked by customers — including Niecey Woodruff. But it’s what he did for her two weeks ago on Valentine’s Day that proved insightful at his character.

“I called him Mim,” said Woodruff with a smile on her face but tears in her eyes.

For her, Singh was one of the good ones: “He always smiled. Very friendly. He always smiled. He always had a smile on his face.”

On Valentine’s Day, she locked her keys in her car with some important deliveries inside. Singh lent her a cellphone to call for help, then just waited.

“He stayed with me. He was special enough to make sure I was safe,” Woodruff said.

Thirteen days later, Singh was dead, killed in an apparent robbery Thursday around 10:49 p.m., less than 15 minutes before the Marathon gas station at 30th Street and College Avenue was supposed to close at 11 p.m.

Hours later, customer after customer arrived at the gas station in disbelief Friday.

Woodruff comes here at least every other evening. In those hundreds of trips in over the last four years, she almost always ran into Singh.

She wasn’t sure it was him who died in the shooting until she walked in Friday and saw all the other employees.

“I was emotional. When I walked into the door, I thought I’d be OK, but I broke down. I thought I’d be OK, but I wasn’t.”

Woodruff said her stepmother, who also frequents the gas station, came over to see surveillance video in hopes she knew the killer. But after seeing it, she’s been jittery and emotional all day.

“I don’t want to see it,” Woodruff said. “I don’t want to see it.”

There’s no comfort for her on this night as she comes to her usual spot.

A caring friend — her “Mim” — was no longer there to greet her.

“I just pray for the family,” Woodruff said.

Employees were very upset on Friday, calling Maninder Singh a brother.

They told News 8 that Singh was an only child and not married. He was a member of the Sikh faith who came to Indiana from India about 10 years ago because he had relatives in the area.

IMPD on Friday night had not officially released the victim’s name or any description of a possible suspect or a vehicle in this incident.