A man accused of fatally stabbing and burning an elderly Queens couple was involved in an attempted robbery at a Manhattan Verizon store weeks before the killings, a store employee said Thursday.
The employee, who declined to be identified, said the confrontation with the suspect, later identified by police as 42-year-old Jamel McGriff, occurred on Aug. 31 at a Sixth Avenue location. The worker said McGriff threatened him with what appeared to be a gun and demanded phones before the clerk recognized the weapon as a fake, fought back and chased the suspect from the store.
"Right as I opened the safe, he said, 'I've got a gun. Give me the f–king phones.' I was like 'No,'" the employee told the New York Post. "I caught a glimpse of his hand and saw shiny plastic, which clued me in that he didn't have a real gun." After a brief struggle in which the clerk said he landed several punches, McGriff fled the store.
The attempted robbery drew renewed scrutiny after police said McGriff was arrested Wednesday night in Times Square in connection with the murder of Frank and Maureen Olton, an elderly couple found dead inside their Queens home earlier this week. Authorities allege the couple were stabbed, mutilated and their home set on fire.
Investigators said charges placed on the victims' credit cards at a Macy's and the Regal Cinemas in Times Square helped lead detectives to McGriff. Officers reportedly tracked his location and appearance in real time and spotted him outside the Regal Cinemas before making the arrest.
McGriff, who was arrested without incident in Manhattan, has an extensive criminal history, according to court records and law enforcement sources. He previously served 17 years in prison and was released in 2023 after convictions that included robbery, a sex offense and attempted assault. Police and court records indicate he did not register as a sex offender after his release and that he is suspected in at least one other robbery. It was not immediately clear why parole authorities had not filed a violation.
The Verizon employee said he now regrets not incapacitating the suspect during the Aug. 31 struggle. "I wish I had actually dropped his a–, so the cops could have carted him off, rather than getting away. That way, the couple might still be alive," he said.
Neighbors and relatives described Frank and Maureen Olton as longtime residents and among the kindest people in the neighborhood. Police removed the victims' bodies from the scene as investigators continued to comb the house for evidence.
Prosecutors have charged McGriff in connection with the double-homicide, and he is expected to appear in court as the investigation continues. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, credit card records and witness statements to establish a timeline and any additional links between McGriff and the victims.
NYPD and prosecutors declined to provide additional details pending formal statements and court filings. The case has prompted renewed questions about monitoring of individuals released from long prison terms, compliance with sex-offender registration laws and the effectiveness of parole supervision in preventing recidivism.
Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact local detectives. The investigation remains active, and further charges or details could be announced as evidence is processed and reviewed.