Dangerous armed robbery spree continues

Deputies warn someone may be hurt or killed if dangerous armed robbers are not identified and stopped soon.

“As time goes on it is just inevitable that somebody’s gonna get hurt. Either a store clerk’s gonna fight back and there’s going to be an exchange of gunfire. Unfortunately in most of these cases it’s the innocent people that get hurt or killed,” said Larry McKinnon, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies are looking into a spree of at least three armed robberies in the county. Investigators have already connected two in the Brandon area -- to the same pair.

They are looking into a connection with the third.

That armed robbery was reported Thursday, after two masked men stormed a Stop and Save convenience store on Clewis Avenue in Tampa.

The clerk pulled out his own gun and scared off the robbers. One of the gunmen fired a shot, but no one was hit.

Deputies also released several pictures of men they believe may have information about the two Brandon armed robberies. They say they need to identify and speak with them.

“Those are individuals that we think may have some information regarding this investigation. We have not labeled them as suspects however we need to identify them,” McKinnon added.

Detectives are offering a $3,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in these cases. 

If you know anything, call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.