A convicted murderer on parole is facing new charges for a violent robbery and pistol whipping at the Burger King in New Windsor last week.

The frightening ordeal unfolded March 27 on Windsor Highway while officials say three employees opened the restaurant, shortly after 6 a.m.

New Windsor police arrested 50-year-old Joseph Rico, from Poughkeepsie, on Tuesday after their investigation identified him as the suspect.

“I heard him say he was going to kill her,” says an anonymous victim who claims in an exclusive interview with News 12 that he was held at gunpoint during the ordeal. “In my head, I’m just thinking somebody’s about to die right here.”

Online records for the New York State Department of Community Corrections and Supervision show Rico was incarcerated in state prison twice and is on parole for murder and robbery in Queens. He served 17 years of a 15 year to life sentence for that crime and was released in 2018.

Rico was arrested again that year and pled guilty to attempted robbery for an incident at a Sunoco in the town of Newburgh, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

After one of his traumatized victims from the Burger King incident spoke to News 12, another said on Facebook that they’re glad he’s caught.

“It’s just a horrible feeling to go through something like this. I’m just terrified.”

New Windsor police say one of their K-9s helped them find a BB gun and gloves that Rico tossed before they arrived.

The manager allegedly suffered facial injuries as a result of the attack.

Rico is charged with robbery, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Prosecutors say the case will go before a grand jury and that Rico was remanded to Orange County Jail without bail.

A Burger King employee tells News 12 that Rico used to work at the restaurant.