Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 32-year old Novel Williams less than 30 minutes after he committed an armed robbery in the early morning hours Saturday at the Kangaroo gas station, located at 10143 SE Sunset Harbor Road in Summerfield.
Distinguishing tattoos on his hands and the peculiar choice of clothing he wore during the robbery were key factors in identifying him as the suspect.
Witnesses at the Kangaroo convenience store told detectives that at approximately
2:08 a.m., an armed suspect, later identified as Williams, entered the business and pointed a handgun at the employees. During the robbery, Williams demanded money and cigarettes, and witnesses say he was apologetic for his actions. Once he received the items he demanded, Williams fled the store on foot. The witnesses described the suspect as a tall black male with a slim build and tattoos on his hands. The suspect was also wearing a black hair cap on top of a baseball hat, a black bath robe, light-colored pajama pants and a dark slipper- type shoe. Witnesses also said the suspect sounded “sick” when he spoke.
Approximately 30 minutes into the search, deputies located Williams in close proximity to where the robbery occurred. Williams matched the physical description of the suspect and his tattoos matched the ones the witnesses saw on the suspect’s hands. During a Post- Miranda interview with detectives, Williams admitted to robbing the store so he could afford a loan for school. He also directed detectives to the location of the items he used during the robbery, to include the gun, the robe and the cigarettes he took. Detectives also noticed that Williams had a nasally voice, which was likely why the victims described the suspect as sounding “sick.”
Williams was arrested and charged with robbery with a weapon. He is currently being held in the Marion County Jail on $50,000 bond.
