Armed Robber Knocked Over Store He Frequents, Deputies Say

An 18-year-old Tampa man faces criminal charges after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies say he made a major blunder when he decided to rob a store at gunpoint on Monday.

Aside from committing the crime in the first place, deputies say the man knocked over a store he happens to frequent. Despite attempts at hiding his identity, the store’s manager easily recognized her regular customer, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.

The crime in question occurred around 10:58 a.m. when a man walked into Jerry’s Armenia Drive Thru, 11721 N. Armenia Ave., with a bandana pulled over his face and a black semi-auto handgun displayed. The man demanded cash, pointed the gun at the manager and ordered her into the store’s office, the email stated.

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The manager handed over cash and let the attacker walk away with five packs of cigarettes. Once the man left, the manager quickly notified deputies of the robbery and that she recognized her attacker as a store regular.

Cody Cunningham was arrested a short time later at his Oregon Avenue home. He now faces armed robbery and tampering with evidence charges, according to Hillsborough County Jail records. He was being held Tuesday without bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

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