( CNN ) -- Police said Thursday that evidence and a surviving victim tie a man killed while trying to rob an Illinois tanning salon to a two-state shooting spree earlier this year . Gary Amaya , 48 , was killed Saturday after he walked into LA Tan salon in Orland Park , Illinois , brandishing a .38 Colt revolver . A customer , Jason McDaniel , rushed at Amaya and killed him after turning the gun on him , according to surveillance video . Will County , Illinois , Sheriff Paul Kaupas said Thursday that the weapon used by Amaya in this weekend 's botched robbery was similar to the one used in two shootings October 5 along the Illinois-Indiana line . One person was killed and three were wounded in those shootings , police have said . In addition , Amaya 's vehicle outside the Orland Park shooting matched one seen in Washington Township , Illinois , and Lowell , Indiana , where the October incidents took place , Kaupas said . The Indiana survivor , too , told detectives it was Amaya who shot him . `` The evidence at this time ... tells us that the suspect that was killed in the armed robbery at Orland Park ... does match the information from the previous homicide-slash-shooting in Lowell , Indiana , '' Kaupas said . Yet Kaupas did not go as far as saying definitively that Amaya was behind all three shootings , noting that he was awaiting results of more forensic tests . Police on Thursday did not expand on widespread reports that the gunman in the first two shootings randomly discussed honey bees before shooting his victims -- leading media to brand him `` the Honey Bee Killer . '' But Kaupas did say Amaya previously worked at a hunting lodge in rural Grundy County , Illinois , where he cared for honey bees . Authorities also elaborated on Saturday 's botched robbery and shooting . Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy said McDaniel , who was in the shop with a worker , offered Amaya his money and explained that he had a young child . `` The comment by Amaya was , 'Whatever , ' '' McCarthy said at the Thursday news conference . `` At that point , both feared for their life , that this was going to be more than a robbery . '' Video shows McDaniel , 29 , rushing at robber and , during the struggle , Amaya being shot . McDaniel told CNN affiliate WGN that he acted after coming to the conclusion that there was something wrong with Amaya . `` There was no ... hurry , '' McDaniel said . `` He was very calm , like he wanted to hurt somebody -- like that was his intended goal . '' This weekend 's shooting come more than two months after a gunman killed one construction worker and hurt two in Washington Township . An hour later and about 10 miles away in Lowell , Indiana , authorities believe the same gunman struck again -- this time firing on a farmer . Keith Dahl was shot in the left shoulder , arm and elbow , and then was robbed . The farmer talked with police detectives after this weekend 's incident . `` Mr. Dahl has unequivocally identified Gary Amaya as the person who shot him , '' Lake County , Indiana , Sheriff Roy Dominguez said at Thursday 's news conference . Amaya is not the first person arrested in connection with the October shootings . Lynwood , Illinois , police officer Brian Dorian was charged with first-degree murder , but four days later was released from jail after authorities were able to verify his alibi . `` I feel horrible that Brian Dorian went through this , '' said Will County State 's Attorney James W. Glasgow . `` At no time did we stop looking for exculpatory evidence . ''
Gary Amaya was shot and killed Saturday while trying to rob an Illinois hair salon . Police say the gun Amaya used matches that in two shootings . In those , a man killed one and wounded another near the Illinois - Indiana line . That gunman reportedly asked his victims about bees ; police say Amaya tended them .