Clerk dead after store shootout with armed men in North Harris Co.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search is on for the gunmen who fatally shot a store clerk in north Harris County overnight.

The deadly shooting happened at a Phillips 66 along the Eastex Freeway, and this isn't the first time clerks there have come under fire.

Like countless nights before, the longtime clerk was behind the counter late last night, but when trucker Darryl Furhman stepped inside, he felt uneasy.

"I don't know. As human beings we seem to have the ability to have a bad feeling about those," he said.

A short time later, just before midnight, tragedy struck. Police say three or four robbers, all wearing masks or hoodies, barged in. They shot and killed Satish Patel, then took off. Shortly after that, investigators found an abandoned truck nearby, but no suspects

"One of the suspects was injured during the altercation in the store," said Thomas Simmons with HPD homicide. "We have recovered the vehicle fleeing the scene."

News of the tragedy quickly spread among truckers who frequented the Phillips 66.

"I just regret that he got killed," said trucker Zen Beasley. "He was such a good guy. He was a friend to me every time we come to the place."

"He was a happy, easy going guy," said store owner Anand Patel. "He went out of his way to help people. He worked 7 days a week 12 hours a day."

The death was even more devastating because just two months ago, this same gas station was the scene of another robbery and a shootout. That time, the clerks shot and injured the suspect.

Now, they are grieving for a friend and family member.

"He was my buddy and that's why I came here," said trucker Joey Romero. "I didn't realize he was going to get killed like that, but a month ago , he shot another guy in the gas station."

Police say the shooting overnight was not related to the incident two months ago. So far, what we know about the victim is that he's in his late 50s and is married with two kids.