Slain store clerk's family runs into legal snag

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Satish Patel's family members are having trouble getting to the US in order to conduct a cremation ritual for the slain gas station clerk. Relatives are now calling on their US representatives to help get his wife and two children to Houston.

Patel's religion requires his son to perform a ritual before he can be buried. The problem is, they are having trouble getting a temporary visa.

Flowers rest at the clerk stand where Patel was killed. Surveillance video shows several men wearing masks going in to the Phillips 66 store last Sunday. Patel went for his gun and was shot several times by the robbers. One suspect was caught.

Patel was a model employee, loved by customers, never missed a day of work and did everything he could to protect the store.

His cousin, and store owner, Anand Patel said, "His way at looking at things was if you give in to these thugs and robbers, then once they find a soft spot, then they are going to keep coming back to that area. And he always believed; fight till you can't fight anymore."

And what a fight he put up in March. We got an exclusive look at another armed robbery involving Patel who went for his gun, shot at the robber and missed. The robber went for Patel's gun. More shots were fired and that robber could seen going aisle to aisle. When he couldn't get out of the store he started throwing antifreeze and motor oil at Patel and another clerk, who also got a gun.

That robber was finally shot, and even started a fire before police arrived. The suspect was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Patel's accused killer, Anthony Jamerson, 17, is also charged in last month's murder of Tommy Thurman at a motel. Jamerson is also being questioned about the killing of an alleged accomplice.

A memorial fund has been set up for Patel. A vigil is scheduled for Friday.