Masked Thieves Demand Victim's Cash, Clothes

PALATKA, Fla. – A Palatka man said he wants to warn his neighborhood after he and five other men were approached by armed, masked thieves who opened fire after demanding the men's clothes and their pants.

The armed robbery took place at about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday outside of the Ragsdale Apartment complex.

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According to police, the thieves were wearing masks similar to the type worn by Jason in the "Friday the 13th" movies.

Victim Johnny McDonald said when he first saw the masked men he thought it was a Halloween prank, but he said when he saw the guns he knew the situation was no laughing matter.

"I was scared for my life. I was panicking and in shock," McDonald said.

He told Channel 4 he was with his cousin, Marcus Roberts, and three other men early Tuesday morning talking in front of an apartment when the two armed thieves approached them.

"They came around the corner saying, 'Take your clothes off. Get 'em off. Y'all know what time it is,'" McDonald said.

He said before he and the other men had a chance to realize what was happening, the thieves had fired two shots. One of the bullets hit McDonald's cousin in the leg.

"Next thing I know, the dude shot Mark, and then he told us to take off all of our clothes and stuff. So I just took off my clothes fast and threw them at them and said, 'That's all I got,'" McDonald said.

Robbed of their wallets, cash and cell phones, the victims were still outside naked when police arrived.

"It never happened to me. I thought this would happen to me," McDonald said.

He said his cousin was still hospitalized Tuesday night but that he is expected to recover.

Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call 386-329-0115 or remain anonymous 386-329-0170.