Though he remains at large, a 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with a fatal shooting outside a Gwinnett County gas station, police said Tuesday.
Nickolas Young was identified after police released surveillance photos and received “several tips about the identity of the suspect,” Cpl. Michele Pihera said.
Young is one of two men wanted in connection with the death of 34-year-old Vitali Mialik, police said.
Mialik’s body was found about 11:15 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the Valero station in the 1700 block of Beaver Ruin Road in unincorporated Norcross, officials said.
According to police, Mialik went to the gas station to buy items from the store, and while he was there, an SUV carrying Young and the other man arrived, Cpl. Frederick Saldana said.
The men went into the store, Saldana said. Young, the alleged shooter, was recorded by surveillance cameras. The other man was not recorded.
The men got into an argument with Mialik in the parking lot when the men left the store, Saldana said. The argument escalated, and Young got an assault rifle from the SUV and shot Mialik before driving away, police said.
Mialik had lived in Suwanee for nine years and was trying to earn enough money to bring his wife and two children from the eastern European county of Belarus to the United States, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Police describe Young and the other man as "armed and dangerous." The other man involved in the incident is between 18-25 and of average height and build.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at 770-513-5300. Also, tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.
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