MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Two armed men held a 9-year-old girl and her mother at gunpoint and robbed a Dollar General store in Ocala, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
The two men entered the store on Marion Oaks Manor on Monday and robbed the employees at gunpoint.
Deputies said one of the robbers ordered the girl and her mother to the ground at gunpoint.
One suspect was wearing all black and had a bandana obscuring his face.
The other suspect was wearing dark gray and also had an obscured face.
They may be driving a black car with what was described as a "horizontal" tail light and may have familiarity with the Marion Oaks area.
Both suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.
No one was injured during the robbery.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Gil Smith said if you ever find yourself in a store with a child during a robbery, lay the child on the floor and lay on top of them. If you're in the back of the store, get down and out of the robber's view.
Smith said to do whatever the gunman orders, including giving them money. Also, get the best description possible of the gunman to give to police.
If you have information on the Ocala suspects' whereabouts, call Detective John Lightle at 352-369-6715 or Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP.