Pensacola Store Owner Pistol-Whipped Twice

By Steve Alexander Reporter

Authorities believe the same man is responsible for both crimes on consecutive Sundays Pensacola Store Owner Pistol-Whipped Twice

Published: Mon, April 21, 2008 - 8:48 pm

Steve Alexander

Escambia County, Florida Sheriff's Deputies are looking for a man who they say robbed and pistol-whipped the same convenience store owner twice within a week.
Deputies say the M and C Food Store on Jackson Street was robbed both this past Sunday and on Sunday, April 13.
They believe the same man is responsible for both crimes.
Glenn Austin with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office says, "His description is the same, the way he yelled at the cashier is the same. You had this black male come in, pull out this huge handgun, and started screaming and demanding cash and then beating him after he got it. There's no reason to strike the cashier after that, but he did."
Customers can't believe the owner, Cao Tran, was beaten twice.
Dean Ray of Pensacola, Florida said, "That's a sweet old man in there. I don't see how somebody could do something like that to him."
Janet Frantz of Pensacola said the crimes make "you almost afraid to go to the store anymore."
But deputies say the second time the suspect robbed the store, he left a clue.
Austin says, "He drove up in a rental car and left the car running in the parking lot, walked in, pistol whipped the guy, robbed him, walked out, got in the car and drove away."
Deputies say the car was a white Toyota Corolla with Florida license plate number V525NL.
They say they're looking for a black man, 6 feet tall, 150 to 160 pounds and about 26 to 30 years old.
If you have any information call the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.