By Jennifer Warren
Police arrested a 17-year-old who allegedly shot a Woodside gas station attendant during a robbery last Thursday and an 18-year-old companion charged with firing a round of bullets at officers as he fled from the scene at Northern Boulevard and Newtown Road, a Police Department spokeswoman said.
Michael Gear, 17, of 50-07 Broadway in Astoria and Onun St. Hilaire, 18, of 106-22 160th St. in Jamaica were charged with attempted murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon, said Detective Nancy Yule, a police spokeswoman.
The station attendant, 41, whose name was not released by police, was outdoors speaking with a taxi driver who frequented the Citgo station at the corner of Northern Blvd. and Newtown Road just before the robbery occurred, said co-worker Zahid Magsood.
The attendant noticed somebody inside his booth and asked the man to leave, Magsood said. The intruder left but soon returned with two friends, he said. After some arguing among the men, one proceeded to shoot the attendant in the neck, he said.
Officers were on routine patrol around 1 a.m. when they discovered the robbery in progress, said Yule.
Gear was apprehended at the scene and found with a handgun and money, police said. Officers were joined by police from the 108th and 114th precincts and pursued St. Hilaire, police said.
While chasing him, police said St. Hilaire turned around and allegedly fired his gun multiple times at the officers. Police said he fled into a courtyard at 50-03 Broadway, where he eluded the officers. A handgun was retrieved from the lobby of the building.
St. Hilaire was later arrested at his home, police said.
The gas station attendant was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition. Two officers from the 114th Precinct were taken to Booth Memorial Hospital for trauma and two officers from the 108th Precinct were brought to Elmhurst Hospital for minor injuries.
