LAKE CITY, Fla. – A Lake City man was unharmed after being shot at Tuesday while pursuing a man who reportedly robbed him at a convenience store, police said.
The man told the Lake City Police Department he pulled into the S&S Food Store to get gas when a black male driving a white utility van parked directly in front of him and talked to him. According to police, the suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded money from the man.
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After he was robbed, the victim then began following the van, police said. During a short chase, the driver of the van stopped in the road at NW Long Street and NW Georgia Street and shot at the victim, hitting his vehicle several times. According to police, the van then fled on U.S. 41 and was not found again.
Lake City Police Chief Argatha Gilmore said she understood the victim’s outrage, but she cautioned against pursuing an armed suspect.
“I understand the anger or frustration that would come with getting robbed of your hard-earned money, but it is not worth losing a life over,” Gilmore said. “We encourage everyone to stay at the scene and contact law enforcement immediately and allow us to do our job and apprehend them.”
The Lake City Police Department is asking for anyone with information about the driver or the van to contact CID Investigator Jon Jenkins at 386-758-5436 or by emailing tips@lcflapd.com.