Sheriff's Office: Gunman In Full-Black Garbs Robs Store

A lone gunman covered in black garments took an undisclosed amount of money in a convenience story robbery Saturday evening, similar to Tuesday's Taylor BP station robbery.

A man wearing black pants, a black shirt, a black hat and a bandana on his face approached two convenience store clerks at the Shell gas station at 3323 U.S. 27 N. near Wal-Mart evening, showing a black handgun and demanding their money while they were closing the store, a Highlands County Sheriff's lieutenant said.

Lt. Keith Starling said the two store clerks were standing outside of the store shortly after 10 p.m. and were preparing to close it down.

When the man confronted them, the clerks handed over their deposit bag to the unidentified suspect, who ran on foot behind the store. Neither clerk was injured in the robbery.

When sheriff's deputies came to the store, their search dogs followed a trail that ended directly behind the store, suggesting that he could have gotten away in a vehicle, Starling said, even though he had no information on what the getaway vehicle was or if one was even used.

The clerks provided an otherwise-limited description of the man, as being about 5 feet, 6 inches and thin. No other information was known about the suspect.

The suspect involved in the Taylor BP robbery was described as a thin, 6-foot tall male.

Starling said he did not know enough about the Taylor BP robbery and could not say whether the two robberies were related. He asked anyone who has any information on the Shell robbery to contact detective Jamie Davidson at 402-7200.

- DOUG CARMAN