VIDEO: Gas station clerk locks attempted robbery suspect in store near UF Health Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reports a robbery investigation at a gas station across from UF Health Jacksonville on 8th Street.

Officers were called just before 9am to the 76 gas station where a black male suspect entered the store and made demands.

“He came in and tried to rob him,” Store Owner Vikas Batel said. “My employee locked the door and he locked the guy inside of the store and he called 911, and police came and got the guy.”

JSO says the clerk was able to secure himself behind a barrier and locked the suspect in the store.

“We have an electronic lock that locks the door, and this door was secure right here and my employee was inside,” Batel said. “He couldn’t get in the robber couldn’t get in.”

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The security video show the suspect in the store at the counter and then at the door unable to get out. In the video the suspect then goes back to the counter and speaks to the employee who is behind a barrier.

“What he did was the right thing that he was supposed to do,” Batel said. “So that’s a good thing.”

JSO says a second possible suspect may be involved, and robbery detectives are investigating.

This would be the third gas station robbery in Jacksonville since Saturday.  We first reported the Gate station on Merrill and Townsend in Arlington was robbed overnight Saturday and an employee, Martin Hower, was shot and killed.

The suspect was described as a black man in his early to mid 20’s with medium length dreadlocks, and was wearing black clothing.

Early Wednesday, a Circle K in Murray Hill was robbed by a masked person who had a long gun.  No one was injured in the robbery attempt and, so far, police haven’t released a full suspect description.

This is a developing story, keep checking for updates.

Cox Media Group