JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A young man just learned the man who police believe held him up at gunpoint up last month was the same man accused of shooting a man during the armed robbery of a BP station last week.
Jacksonville police who arrested Sherwin Birt in the shooting of gas station owner Vipin Sharma after he handed over cash have charged Birt in several other crimes, including the robbing Gilberto Santiago July 12 as he worked the front desk at Stars Rest Inn on Lane Avenue.
Santiago said he had only been working at the hotel for two weeks when the man came in and put a gun in his face.
"'If you don't put your phone down and get on the floor, we are going to start shooting," Santiago said the gunman told him. "He was going to start shooting, so we got on the floor."
Santiago is only 20 years old, but said a moment he thought his life was over.
Santiago said he gave the robber money and "he just storms off."
Police said Birt made off $199.
Woman believes BP suspect was on her property
A Jacksonville woman told News4Jax she believes the suspected BP shooter was outside her Westside Jacksonville house.
The homeowner, who asked to be referred to as A.L., said a man was seen walking on her back porch.
"I would assume he was just trying to scope out what we have back there," A.L. said. "The similarities I have from my security camera -- the video and the photos are so similar to what was posted on one of the links for the guy that did the robbery at BP."
WATCH: Woman says home surveillance shows alleged BP shooter
A.L. said the man walked back and forth several times for about six minutes. At one point, she said she noticed he was carrying a gun.
A JSO report shows the incident happened just after noontime on July 6.
Less than an hour later, police said Birt committed a home invasion robbery about a half mile down the road from A.L.'s home.
Birt's arrest
When arrested Monday, Birt was charged with the July 12 Stars Rest armed robbery, a July 23 robbery of the Avondale Superette, the July 25 armed robbery and shooting of the Arlington BP station, along with a home burglary in December.
Birt has since been charged with an April 19 armed robbery of Dan's Sports and Games on Park Street. He is also suspected in a home invasion that happened July 6.
Sharma, who was shot in the BP holdup eight days ago, remains hospitalized.
Santiago said he's relieved Birt is in jail, being held without bond.
"I am happy that I wasn't the person that got shot. I am sad that the person in the BP got shot and I am just glad that (Birt) got locked up," Santiago said.
Over the last two decades, Sherwin Birt has spent more than 11 years in state prison and one year in the jail. Here's a look at his booking photos from the past 15 years.