(Tampa, Fla. - 970 WFLA) On February 22, 2017 at approximately 3:04 am, a suspect entered the Circle K located at 6211 North Dale Mabry Highway. The suspect was armed with a handgun and wearing a black mask. The suspect pointed the pistol at the clerk and demanded money. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect fled.
After the robbery, an alert was sent out and it was discovered that two deputies had been running radar on North Dale Mabry Highway and had stopped the suspect earlier in the morning (approximately 2:26 am) where he was cited for speeding and for driving while license suspended without knowledge. Deputies smelled marijuana and did a search of the vehicle, locating a handgun. The individual admitted to owning the unloaded gun and deputies ran a computer search on gun and it was not stolen and was returned to the driver. Deputies confiscated his suspended driver's license and the individual was told to call someone to come pick him up and not to drive. The deputies then left and the suspect was still in the parking lot.
After deputies left, the suspect robbed the Circle K at 3:04 am. Based on the alert from the Circle K robbery and information gathered by deputies with the traffic citations, the identity of the suspect was realized. At approximately 3:45 am, deputies attempted a traffic stop on the white Nissan Altima for a suspect involved in multiple armed robberies. The suspect accelerated and attempted to flee from deputies. Deputies followed the suspect where he stopped in front of 2825 Falling Leaves Drive and exited his vehicle.
20 year old Trevor Gipson gave up to a K-9 team without incident. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has charged Gipson in connection with three armed robberies.
1. 7-Eleven on February 21, 2017 at 4:07 am 1001 McMullen Road
2. 7-Eleven on February 21, 2017 at 4:25 am 16781 Fishhawk Blvd.
3. Circle K on February 22, 2017 at 3:04 am 6211 North Dale Mabry Highway
Gipson is also responsible for an armed robbery within the City of Temple Terrace.