APD Seeks Help Identifying Armed Robbery Suspect

ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Police Department is appealing to the public for assistance in identifying a suspect involved in an armed robbery that occurred late Wednesday night, Dec. 18, 2024, at the Marathon Gas Station located at U.S. Highway 441 and Northwest 43rd Street.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., an unidentified black male entered the gas station and brandished a firearm, confronting the store clerk. The clerk escaped the building through the back door, but the suspect chased after him, stopping him by placing the firearm to the clerk’s back. The suspect forced the clerk to return to the store, where he demanded money from the register and lottery tickets.

The situation escalated when the clerk managed to activate a silent panic alarm. However, the suspect noticed the action and fled the scene, heading toward a roadway behind the gas station. Responding officers, assisted by a K-9 unit, discovered fresh tire tracks at the location, indicating that the suspect likely escaped in an unknown vehicle.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, approximately 6 feet tall, with a slender build. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black Reebok sweater with white writing, light-colored soiled shoes, and a face mask resembling a medical covering.

Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about the incident or the suspect's identity to come forward. The Alachua Police Department can be reached at 386-462-1396. Alternatively, tips can be submitted anonymously through Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867, their website, or their mobile app.

Anonymous online tips can also be submitted via the department's website at https://loom.ly/7uR9tR4.

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