Nineteen years have passed and still the Joseph Sass robbery and homicide case remains unsolved. The murder occurred sometime after 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2000 when Joseph R. Sass, was shot in the face while working at the King George Road Exxon station in Warren New Jersey. Sass was pronounced dead on arrival at Morristown Memorial Hospital less than an hour later.

On Thursday, June 29, 2000 at approximately 9:20 p.m., the 32-year-old Sass, easily distinguishable with his red hair and 6-foot-4, 280 pound-frame, was in the midst of his regular 3 to 11 p.m. shift at the gas station located at the intersection of King George Road and Route 78.

A dedicated and well-liked employee at the King George Exxon Gas Station, Sass was working the late shift, as he had done many times in the previous 10 years.  On the night of the robbery/homicide, several witnesses reported that a black male subject approached the gas station on foot from the south side entrance nearest to I-78 and entered the vending machine area of the station.  The suspect was further described as between 5’10” and  6’1” tall, thin build, dark complexion and between 20 and 30 years old.

Witnesses reported that the suspect engaged in a brief conversation with Sass about the vending machines taking dollar bills. The witnesses then reported that the suspect asked Sass for change at which time he removed a large quantity of bills from his pocket. The suspect then produced a handgun and demanded that Sass give him all the money.  After Sass complied, the suspect shot him anyway.  Sass was shot in the head at point blank range.  As Sass was lying wounded, the suspect walked briskly out of the station in the same direction as he entered moments earlier. Witnesses observed a late model, dark colored commercial type van fleeing the area and proceeding west bound onto I-78.

Police have had little physical evidence. No weapon has been found and there wasn’t a clear identification of the getaway van. 

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-888-577-TIPS. Crime Stoppers operators answer these calls 24 hours a day. All calls to the TIPS line are confidential and the caller remains anonymous. Tips leading to the arrest and indictment of criminal offenders are eligible to collect a cash reward.