MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A man was arrested less than 30 minutes after committing an armed robbery at a gas station early Saturday while wearing pajamas and a bathrobe, the Marion County Sherif's Office said.
The robbery happened at the Kangaroo gas station at 10143 SE Sunset Harbor Road in Summerfield.
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Deputies said witnesses at the Kangaroo convenience store told detectives that at about 2:08 a.m., Saturday, an armed suspect, who was later identified by the Sheriff's Office as Novel Williams, 32, entered the business and pointed a handgun at employees.
Williams demanded money and cigarettes during the robbery, and witnesses said he was apologetic for his actions, deputies said. After receiving the items he demanded, Williams fled the store on foot.
Deputies said he was described by witnesses as a tall black man with a slim build and tattoos on his hands who wore a black hair cap on top of a baseball hat, a black bathrobe, light-colored pajama pants and a dark slipper-type shoe.
Witnesses said the robber sounded "sick" when he spoke, deputies said.
Deputies found Williams near where the robbery happened about 30 minutes into the search. Deputies said Williams matched the physical description of the robber and his tattoos matched the ones the witnesses saw on the robber's hands.
During a post-Miranda interview with detectives, Williams admitted to robbing the store so he could afford a loan for school, deputies said. He also directed detectives to the location of the items he used during the robbery, including the gun and robe, and the cigarettes he took.
Deputies said detectives also noticed that Williams had a nasal-sounding voice, which was likely why the victims described the robber as sounding "sick."
Williams was arrested and charged with robbery with a weapon, deputies said. He is being held in the Marion County Jail on $50,000 bail.