HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Deputies were searching Friday for four young men suspected of being involved in an armed burglary in Hawthorne, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
The search took place off Chesser Monroe Road in a rural area of Hawthorne near State Road 20.
The four suspects, who might be teens, ran off on foot after breaking into a home about 9:20 a.m., deputies said.
One of the suspects, who are all black males, could be wearing a red shirt; one is shirtless; and it is not known what the other two were wearing, deputies said.
Deputies set up a perimeter, but suspect the group made it outside the area with a vehicle and called off the ground search. They had searched by foot and air until about 1:30 p.m. The investigation continues.
Alachua, Bradford and Clay deputies and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers assisted in the search. Alachua's helicopter also assisted, as did K-9 units from Putnam and Alachua counties.
The suspects were believed to be in a wooded area. No houses were involved in the search and none of the surrounding houses were in danger, deputies said.
The young men are apparently well-armed, but no injuries have been reported and no shots were fired, deputies said. The guns involved in the armed burglary were one long gun and three handguns.