Cross-County Manhunt On For Serial Carjacker

PLANT CITY, FL -- A cross-county manhunt is on for an armed man involved in a string of carjackings in central Florida Wednesday morning, April 25.

Hillsborough and Polk county deputies, Plant City Police and the Florida Highway Patrol are searching for a black man driving a green Ford F150 with the Florida tag 937 9TJ. It was last seen traveling south on Thonotosassa Road in Plant City.

The sheriff's office said the man, who is wanted in Orange County, traveled down Interstate 4 to Polk County Wednesday morning, then led deputies on a pursuit across the county line.When he reached Plant City, the man abandoned the Cadillac he was driving and stole a 2002 Ford Pickup truck with a trailer attached to it.

The owner of the truck followed the car thief to the Marathon gas station located at Marshall Drive and Thonotosassa Road and confronted the car thief, who pulled out a gun and fired two shots at the man. The man was not injured, but bullet holes were found in a truck nearby.

The carjacker abandoned the trailer on the truck and authorities assume he is still driving the green pickup truck.

The carjacker is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 240 pounds, bald or short-cropped hair, wearing a green shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone who spots him is asked to call 911 immediately.

Image via Hillsborough Sheriff