Police believe the same armed robber held up that store last Friday and also robbed a Sunoco on Thursday.

OCALA – Mahendrakumar G. “Mike” Patel intended to shoot an armed robber who entered his store on Thursday night.

But Patel’s gun never fired, and he believes there probably wasn't a round in the chamber.

"Absolutely, I would've shot him," said Patel, standing in his Chevron store at 11990 SE County Road 484 Friday morning. The store owner had good reason to be armed, as his store had been held up last Friday. Belleview Police Department officials believe it may have been the same robber.

Within two and a half hours Thursday night, Belleview police officers and Marion County sheriff's deputies responded to three armed robberies. The two in Belleview occurred within about a half an hour of each. The third robbery was at the Speedy Food Mart at 5501 NE 35th St. in Silver Springs shortly before 11 p.m.

Since last Friday night, there have been eight robberies involving stores and a pizza delivery man — in the cities of Ocala and Belleview and unincorporated Marion County. Ocala police have arrested two suspects.

While it was not clear whether most of the robberies are connected, Belleview police said they are confident that three of theirs involve one individual.

At 8:30 p.m. Thursday, BPD officers were called to the Sunoco at 10251 S. U.S. 441.

Surveillance video shows the clerk was busy counting cash behind the counter when the armed male quickly entered the front door and pointed a firearm in the direction of the employee. Looking up, the worker, who appeared calm, saw the gun and immediately gave the robber cash.

After receiving the cash, the gunman ran out the building.

At about 9 p.m., as officers were investigating that robbery, they were called to the Chevron.

Video from that robbery shows a male entered the store and pointed a gun at Patel, who was startled. As the brazen robber walked toward the back of the counter, Patel reached for a handgun, pointed it toward the advancing robber and squeezed the trigger. The gun did not fire, but the gunman could be seen taking a shooting stance and backing away and then coming around the counter again.

The gunman then calmly walked behind the counter and put Patel’s firearm in his pocket. He then removed cash from two drawers as Patel lay on the ground. The robber walk away but seconds later returned and took cigarettes from a shelf. Then he left the store.

Officials described the robber as a black male, about medium build, wearing dark clothing and tennis shoes and a bandanna covering his face. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about any of the Belleview robberies can call Detective Jody Backlund at 233-2146, or Crime Stoppers at 368-7867, text a tip to 274637 or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.