Jacksonville police are looking for two suspects who pistol-whipped and robbed at least two people in the same day.
Action News Jax spoke exclusively with one of the victims, a 19-year-old new father just trying to provide for his 1-year-old.
“There was nothing really I could do,” said victim Trevor Lopez. “Two guns, two guys and just one of me.”
Lopez believes the suspects stalked him prior to the attack. He said they confronted him just as he reached a gap in the fence he was walking along on California Avenue.
Based on the timing, he believes they were watching him all along.
“It was in the broad daylight,” Lopez said. “They didn’t care who was around. I was thinking about taking [my son] and I’m glad I didn’t. They probably wouldn’t have cared. They’re just robbing people.”
"There was nothing really I could do. Two guns, two guys and just one of me."
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) November 20, 2018
Robbery victim speaks exclusively with @ActionNewsJax, tonight at 10 and 11. How he says he was ambushed, and the other local case police believe this may be connected to. @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/VBYXrUVkwE
Lopez said his son was the first thing that went through his mind when he was robbed and pistol-whipped on his way to the gas station not even a quarter mile from his home last Monday.
“A kid ran from out of the gap and told me to give him everything out of my pockets, but I didn’t move, I couldn’t really do anything,” Lopez said. “Then the bigger man came around with another gun and they had them to my stomach. The kid hit me with the gun and then just got in the car and left.”
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office believes that the red SUV in which the drove off may have also been spotted leaving another robbery scene about two miles away on Witby Avenue, 40 minutes later.
Police say the 50-year-old victim was pistol-whipped and robbed in his own driveway, soon after making a stop at a local gas station.
Action News Jax saw blood in the neighbor’s yard after he got to her, desperate for help.
“He was saying, 'Help!', 'Help!'” she said. “I saw him holding his eyes and I saw the blood. He said 'Somebody just robbed me in my yard coming from work.'”
Fearing retaliation, that neighbor didn’t want to be identified, but she called 911.
They are two cases with two suspects and several similarities. Officers hope to bring them in before they strike again.
Cox Media Group
