A clerk at a Marathon gas station in Winter Haven said she fought back to protect herself and another clerk from a desperate gunman demanding cash.
In less than a minute the armed robber fired three shots at the clerks behind the counter, luckily all of them missed.
“At one point he aimed the gun toward the cigarettes, I know he shot three times,” Renee said. Renee did not want us to use her last name or show her face. She can be seen in the video throwing whatever she could get her hands on at the gunman as he demanded cash from the register.
“My main thought was to keep him out from the back area there,” Renee said. “I mean, there is no telling what he would've done if he actually managed to get back there. He could have shot either one of us that night if he would've got through.”
As Renee threw a phone, 2-liter of soda, and a roll of paper towels at the gun wielding robber, her co-worker was able to push the bullet proof partition closed during the barrage of items distracting the suspect. He ran out of the store empty handed.
“I hope he ends up in jail. I hope they prosecute him to the fullest. Not only did he bring a gun in, he opened fire.”
Polk County released this statement:
The suspect is described as a white male in his early to mid-twenties (20's), about five (5) feet and nine (9) inches tall, and about one-hundred and forty (140) pounds. The suspect was wearing a black ski mask, a red Chicago Bulls cap, and all black clothing. The weapon is described as a black revolver.
The car you see in this video belongs to a witness who pulled up just after it occurred.
The suspect fled on foot.
If anyone has information about this incident they are urged to contact the PCSO Robbery Unit at 863-298-6200.
Anyone with information can remain anonymous and is eligible for a cash reward.
1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED! iPhone and Droid users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install these free apps, please visit www.tipsoft.com.
