Man charged in Hicksville robbery attempt

A Central Islip man has been charged in the attempted robbery of a woman who was pumping gas Friday night in Hicksville, Nassau County police said.

According to detectives, Jamel Henderson, 25, of Date Street, approached the victim at the Gulf Gas Station on North Broadway at 10 p.m. and stuck an unidentified object in her ribs. Police said Henderson threatened to kill the woman if she did not move away from her car.

The woman, police said, ran back into her vehicle but was unable to slam the door shut because Henderson was pulling on it. After a brief struggle, the victim got out of her car and ran to the other side of the vehicle, screaming for help, authorities said.

Two witnesses, a 38-year-old man and an 42-year-old woman, rushed to the victim's aid and Henderson fled the scene on foot, police said.

About five minutes later, police said, Henderson reportedly returned to the scene only to be confronted by the male witness; he fled a second time but was later apprehended by police behind the Broadway Mall in Hicksville.

Henderson is charged with attempted second-degree robbery and will be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.