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TARPONS SPRINGS (FOX 13) - A teenage gym employee was hospitalized Friday afternoon after being stabbed in an apparent robbery attempt.
According to police in Tarpon Springs, it was just before 3:30 when the 16-year-old Crossfit employee was attacked outside the business on U.S. 19 North. The victim was in the parking lot when a man came up behind him and started rifling through his shorts, demanding he hand over anything he had.
"This young man is just out here, working, doing what his boss asked him to, trying to get some equipment and things ready for the business, and bring it back inside, and he gets accosted by this individual," said Major Young, spokesperson from the Tarpon Springs Police Department.
When the victim turned around, the suspect stabbed him in the chest. The teen fell over but was able to run back to the gym. He was later hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect, meanwhile, jumped back into the driver’s seat of what police said was a “newer style beige SUV” and fled towards U.S 19. He was described as a Hispanic male in his 20s.
Police are now looking for him. They ask anyone with information to contact Tarpon Springs Police Department detectives at (727) 938-2849.