Mount Dora police searching for armed robber

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Mount Dora Police Department is searching for a suspect who robbed a fast-food restaurant Friday morning. Around 6:30 a.m. a masked gunman entered Wendy’s, 18890 U.S. Highway 441 and robbed the restaurant of an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured, MDPD spokesperson Misty Sommer said. The suspect is described as a black male with a slightly heavy build, late teens to early 20s, and he was wearing all black clothing and a black beanie, along with a surgical mask. If you have information, call MDPD at 352-735-7130.

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Trial set to begin in ’24 murder of Leesburg store owner

TAVARES, Fla.—The trial of the man accused of killing a Leesburg store owner is scheduled to begin this week, according to court records. Alex Lopez, 26, is accused of gunning down Raied “Ray” Shihadeh, 51, during a robbery at Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, on May 30, 2024 and fleeing the scene. Shihadeh was airlifted to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Lopez, of Wildwood, was on the run for nearly a month after the murder, before being captured at a Kissimmee motel by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Violent Crimes Task Force.

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Fruitland Park man admits to robbing grandparents at knifepoint

FRUITLAND PARK, Fla.—A Fruitland Park man remains in the Lake County Jail on $28,500 bond, accused of robbing his grandparents and threatening to slice their throats. Shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in unincorporated Fruitland Park on a report of a robbery that occurred Friday night. Richard French told a deputy his wife, Shirley, had just left the home with his grandson Kyle Davis Blowers, 36, to get gas. French said around 9 p.m. Blowers came into their bedroom, approached them with a knife and reportedly said, “I want the money, I

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Victim uninjured after armed robbery in parking lot of Mount Dora store

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Mount Dora Police Department is investigating after a woman was robbed of her purse at gunpoint in a parking lot late Saturday afternoon. The victim told police a black male, dressed in all black, wearing a ski mask and armed with a silver semi-automatic firearm, approached her as she was about to enter her vehicle in the parking lot of Viva Liquor 1 , 101 South Highland Street, around 5:40 p.m., according to MDPD. The suspect took the woman’s purse and demanded her phone, but she refused to give it to him. He threatened to shoot her and

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Mount Dora police searching for suspect who robbed customer at liquor store Saturday

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Mount Dora Police Department is searching for an armed robber who robbed a customer at a liquor store late Saturday afternoon. A suspect wearing all black and a ski mask robbed a customer at Viva Liquor 1, 101 South Highland Street, around 5:40 p.m. Saturday and fled the scene in a silver SUV. No other details were released Saturday night and police were still on scene investigating. If you have information, call MDPD at 352-735-7130. Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information that the store was robbed.

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Deputies searching for man accused of robbing South Lake pharmacist at gunpoint

CLERMONT, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies are searching for a man who robbed a pharmacist of prescription pills at gunpoint in the Four Corners area of unincorporated Clermont Tuesday morning. The suspect, described as a white male, weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with balding red hair and a beard, entered Walgreens,1600 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, shortly before 9 a.m. and went to the pharmacy area of the store. He displayed a gun and robbed the pharmacist of prescription pills, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said. No one was injured, and the man, who had tattoos on at least one of his

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Accused murderer back in Lake County

TAVARES, Fla.—The man police believe is responsible for the murder of a Leesburg store owner was booked into the Lake County Jail Friday morning. Alex Lopez, 25, is facing charges of premeditated murder, armed robbery and two other weapons offenses, and is being held on no bond. Lopez was on the run for nearly a month, while Leesburg Police Department worked with state, federal and local agencies to track him down and finally located him at a motel in Kissimmee around 7 p.m. Wednesday, Leesburg Police Department Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. He was taken into custody by the FDLE/Orlando –

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Trial set to begin in ‘24 murder of Leesburg store owner

TAVARES, Fla.—The trial of the man accused of killing a Leesburg store owner is scheduled to begin this week, according to court records. Alex Lopez, 26, is accused of gunning down Raied Shihadeh, 51, during a robbery at Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, on May 30, 2024 and fleeing the scene. Shihadeh was airlifted to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Lopez, of Wildwood, was on the run for nearly a month after the murder, before being captured at a Kissimmee motel by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Violent Crimes Task Force. Lopez

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Leesburg police identify murder suspect, need public’s help finding him

LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has identified the man they believe is responsible for a murder and armed robbery Thursday night. A warrant has been issued for Alex Lopez, 25, of Wildwood for premeditated murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and using a firearm during a felony. Shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday, a man believed to be Lopez, entered Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, and shot Raied Shihadeh, 51. He was airlifted to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he died from his injuries, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. The suspect, now identified as Lopez, fled

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VIDEO: Leesburg Police release surveillance video of store robbery

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story described the possible race of the suspect, Leesburg Police Department has since stated the suspect’s race is unconfirmed. LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has released store surveillance video of an armed robbery and shooting Thursday night. Police have not identified the man who entered the Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, Leesburg and shot an employee shortly before 9:30 pm. LPD is looking for a male wearing an orange shirt and had his face covered with a pink shirt. The victim was airlifted to a local hospital and the victim’s condition was unknown

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One shot in robbery at Leesburg store Thursday night, Leesburg Police searching for suspect

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story described the possible race of the suspect, Leesburg Police Department has since stated the suspect’s race is unconfirmed. Update: VIDEO: Leesburg Police release surveillance video of store robbery – Inside Lake LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department is searching for a suspect who robbed and shot a store employee Thursday night. Details were limited at press time, “It’s a very active scene,” LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh told Inside Lake. Shortly before 9:30 p.m., Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, Leesburg was robbed, and one person was shot. The victim was airlifted to an area

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Tracking App Helps Nab Accused Umatilla Teenaged Armed Robber

UMATILLA, Fla.—A tracking app helped nab an accused teenaged armed robber earlier this week, according to an arrest affidavit. Juan “Slugga” Gomez Jr., 16, of Umatilla, is accused of robbing two victims of $500 on Orange Circle in Lady Lake Sunday. The victims told Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies a masked male suspect pointed a gun at them and demanded money, and a second male who was not wearing a mask helped him, the affidavit states. The victims identified Gomez through social media and LSCO found that he attended Umatilla High School. Gomes was secured and detained at UHS Monday,

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Man Arrested for Armed Robbery in Eustis Friday

EUSTIS, Fla.—A man suspected of an armed robbery in Eustis Friday is in the Lake County Jail on $50,500 bond. According to Eustis Police Department Chief Craig Capri, a man reported he was robbed of his wallet that contained around $400, his identification and a Cash App card Friday afternoon on East Hazzard Avenue. He told police the suspects were in an older blue SUV and a black Volkswagen, and he was walking on the side of a home in the 1200 block of East Hazzard Avenue when he felt two firearms on his back. He said two men, one

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Suspect Photos Released in Eustis Gas Station Robbery

EUSTIS, Florida—Eustis Police Department has released two photos of the suspect who robbed a Eustis gas station Wednesday night. The manager of Bay Street Food Mart, formerly known as Kars Mart, 1212 South Bay Street, was outside closing up at around 11 p.m. when the robber ran up, held the victim at gunpoint and went back into the business. The victim opened the cash register, and the suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and fled the scene on foot. Video surveillance captured the incident, and the photos accompanying this article were taken from that video. The

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Eustis Store Manager Held at Gunpoint, Store Robbed of Cash Wednesday Night

EUSTIS, Florida—Eustis Police Department is hunting for an armed robber after the manager of a busy gas station was held at gunpoint late Wednesday night as he closed the store. The manager of Bay Street Food Mart, formerly known as Kars Mart, 1212 South Bay Street, was outside closing up at around 11 p.m. when the robber ran up from the north side of the building, pulled a gun from his jacket pocket and demanded money, EPD said in a press release. The victim and the suspect went back into the business and the victim opened the cash register. The

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2 Tampa Men Nabbed for Leesburg Gas Station Robbery Monday

Update: 7:05 p.m. A previous version of this story stated the suspects’ bond was set at $52,000. At 5:32 p.m. and 5:33 p.m., their bond status was updated to no bond. LEESBURG, Florida—Two Tampa men found hiding under a blanket behind a washer and dryer in the carport of a Leesburg home have been arrested for robbing a gas station Monday morning of numerous cartons of cigarettes and vapes, according to their arrest affidavits. Tyreece Freeman Jr., 22 and Jahiem Vonzell Comer, 21, both of Tampa, were found by Leesburg Police Department after a complaint of a suspicious person led

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