BP gas station robbery, shooting suspect arrested

ORIGINAL STORY: Man in teal Jaguars shirt robs gas station, shoots owner, JSO says

The man accused of shooting a convenience store clerk during a robbery last week was arrested Monday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

JSO tells Action News Jax that the Criminal Apprehension Team was conducting surveillance to locate the suspect seen in surveillance video.

Officers saw the suspect leave an apartment at an Arlington apartment complex, open the trunk of a vehicle, get out a backpack and head back towards the apartment.

Officers made contact with the suspect, took him into custody and recovered the gun from the shooting.

The apartment complex where the suspect and his girlfriend live is just a few hundred feet away from the BP gas station store where the crime took place.

Police said the suspect demanded money from an employee, Vipin Sharma, threatening him with a gun from his waistband.

Although Sharma did what the suspect said, the suspect shot the employee before fleeing.

JSO said the suspect was observed getting into a 2014 white Hyundai Sonata. That same car was spotted parked in front of the apartment complex on Monday.

Vipin Sharma’s family says he was relieved to hear of the arrest.

“He was very happy that JSO had found this person,” said his wife, Jayshree Sharma. “It’s a big relief to know he’s off the street.”

Sharma has a long road to recovery, but is now talking.

The BP gas station store he owned is still closed.

Family set up a Go-Fund-Me page for those who like to help pay for Sharma's medical bills: https://www.gofundme.com/vipin-sharma-hospital-bills-etc.

Cox Media Group