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Brooklyn Porn Store Clerk Killed During Apparent Botched Robbery
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 19, 2011
Modified Nov 19, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 19, 2011
Modified Nov 19, 2011
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A clerk at a Brooklyn porn shop was beaten to death early this morning in what cops believe was a botched robbery. The clerk, who the Post identified as Nemal Randunu and who was apparently in his 50s, was bludgeoned to death around 12:30 a.m. at Video Xcitement Inc. on 3rd Avenue near 25th Street. “I don't know what happened. The police are still looking into it, but it might have been a robbery,” the owner of the 24-hour Sunset Park sex shop told the Daily News.
Authorities are now searching for a Hispanic male suspect, who they say came to Video Xcitement to rob the store. It's unclear what led to Randunu being clobbered on the head though—he died inside the porn shop from massive head trauma, NYPD sources said. Police added that the suspect left the store with a black garbage bag stuffed with an unidentified object. “It’s very sad. He’s a good guy. He came from Sri Lanka to make a living. He worked five or six nights a week here,” said Vertino Rodriguez, who works in a liquor store across the street.
Some are upset at the way the Daily News has covered the story thus far. One reader wrote us saying they were "disgusted" that the lede for their story refers to the victim as "an over-the-hill porn store clerk." You can see a screenshot of the homepage lede below.
Tagged
bludgeoning
botched robbery
brooklyn
death
porn store
sunset park
video excitement
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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