Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse police released a photo of Romeo Williams, the 18-year-old charged with felony assault in Saturday's beating of an elderly man at a 7-Eleven.

Williams, of 433 Chemung St., Solvay, is accused of punching James Gifford, 70, before dawn in the parking lot of the convenience store at South Avenue and Valley Drive. The suspect then celebrated the attack inside the store before attacking the victim again, kicking and stomping him in the face, authorities said Monday.

Police did not immediately release the photo, citing the ongoing investigation. Sgt. Tom Connellan said Monday investigators were still showing the suspect's photo to potential witnesses for identification purposes. It was released at 3 p.m. this afternoon.



Read more about why police are hesitant to release mug shots of some suspects.

Williams remains in jail on $100,000 bail.