WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Officers with the Winter Garden Police Department are searching for a man they say went on a crime spree along busy Colonial Drive Sunday evening before carjacking a vehicle and going on to commit robberies in Orlando.
The assailant shot a man at the drive-up ATM at the SunTrust Bank in the 13000 block of West Colonial Drive, police said.
"He brandished a handgun and we don’t quite know if there were any words exchanged at this time," said Lt. Anthony Dawkins, with the Winter Garden Police Department.
Police said the victim was able to drive across the street to the Wawa convenience store for help.
"He was given aid and transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in stable condition," Dawkins said.
Within minutes, detectives said they believe the same robber ran less than a quarter mile away to Walgreens -- also in the 13000 block of Colonial Drive -- where he carjacked a man for his white 2017 sports model Mitsubishi Outlander.
"All we have at this point is (that) he was wearing dark clothing -- possibly a black hoodie," Dawkins said. "That’s all we have at this point."
Winter Garden police Lt. Scott Allen said the suspect continued the crime spree into Sunday night, robbing a CVS and a Dunkin' Donuts in Orlando before the Mitsubishi he allegedly carjacked was found ablaze.
Dunkin Donuts employee Ray Davis said he was getting ready to close up the coffee shop when a man came in and showed Davis a gun.
"I've never experienced a gun in my face before," Davis said.
Davis said the man shot at the register, he thinks, because he was nervous and taking too long opening it. Before the robber left with the money, he hit Davis in the head with the gun three times.
The suspect later tried to use the carjacking victim's credit card at the 7 Eleven on Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive, but was unsuccessful, Allen said.
Sometime before 10 p.m. the white Mitsubishi was found on fire near Willie Mays Parkway and Kozart Street, police said.
Winter Garden police are working with Orlando police and hope to put out surveillance video to help catch the suspect. Police said the suspect is a black man, slender and about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Detectives are searching for any video or other clues to help them track down the man responsible.
A piece of clothing was found left behind in the Walgreens parking lot after the carjacking, possibly belonging to the robber.
Officials warned people to be aware of their surroundings, especially at ATMs.
"If you see someone walking in the area and you don’t feel comfortable, just keep driving and go to another one," Dawkins said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Winter Garden Police Department or the Orlando Police Department.